Meet the Woman Who Prevented a Mass School Shooting

You all might have heard about the amazing woman, Antoinette Tuff, who talked down a gunman at an Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia a few days ago. She was interviewed by Channel 2 news and described the event and how she was able to face the gunman by expressing compassion for his situation. Here's the captivating and inspiring interview.

Can you imagine quelling the natural impulse to run or fight and instead face the danger with calm compassion? Antoinette was asked how she was able to do it. Firstly, she spoke of her own experience of suffering and shared her struggles with the young armed man, Michael Brandon Hill. She spoke of her multi-disabled child, her husband of 33 years she had recently lost, her own suicide attempt, but then she reminded him that although life throws in turns, it's possible to overcome them, or in Inner Constellation language--transform all adversity and challenge (IC Truth number 3: Everything, no matter how challenging, can be transformed)

Secondly, Antoinette spoke of anchoring in her faith. Knowing that the situation was beyond her, she consciously allowed herself to be used as a vehicle and prayed for strength, that’s when she began to engage the young man. By responding with compassion she prevented further harm to herself, the shooter, and over 800 children at the school. Her description of anchoring brought to mind an Inner Constellation technique I’ve coined, Dropping Anchor:

1) Focus on dropping your attention into the area of your heart

2) Breath evenly and comfortably in and out of the heart area as if it has its own respiration

3) Call to mind and appreciate all the times when you've experienced or expressed your NorthStar

4) Ask yourself, "what is one way to exercise my North Star today?"

As a sweet friend of mine said, Antoinette Tuff dropped anchor directly into Divinity's heart. She was completely present with care. Antoinette’s story is an inspiration that all things are possible when we ground to what is most important to us and become a vehicle for transformation.  Antoinette Huff, thank you for demonstrating bravery and North Star heroism.