Fight or flight

​A retreat is initiated by a contagious panic, by a fear that overwhelms each man’s mind and causes him to flee for his life. But what happens when a force turns and runs in the face of an enemy that is perceived to be stronger?

Throughout most of history, they’ve been slaughtered.

A similar thing happens when we run from our problems. In our panic, we turn our backs and open ourselves up to receive more damage. But by running, we imbue the problem we are trying to escape with more energy. We allow it to compound, and we allow it to win, at least temporarily, because no one can win a fight when they are running from it.

The other option is turning into our problems. Rather than fleeing, standing steady. Rather than panicking, meeting the evolving situation with composure. Instead of complaining that we can’t stop them, that we can’t control them, we focus on what we can control, on what we can do. Which is usually more than we imagine.

These are the two options. We can see our problems, panic and run, knowing, but refusing to accept that we can never escape them, knowing that one day in the future they will catch us and we will have to face them.

Or we can stand steady and await the clash with composure and courage. We can choose to fight the battle while the enemy is still small enough to be beaten