The Beast in the Garden of the Mind
What kind of “approach” would be useful when faced with a hungry bear?
The Beast in the Garden of the Mind: The Strategic Approach to Challenges
One like: “Oh, what a cute and loving animal! Let me get closer and pet it!” or “Life is beautiful, beer is good, so I better run to enjoy life!”
Another option could be: “Ouch! It’s going to eat me, I better run as fast as I can!” or “What’s the point of running? A bear runs at 70km per hour, so it will surely catch me. Might as well do nothing… oh, life is so hard! How do I relax?”
My example is extreme. Its purpose is to show that there are moments when certain positive thoughts are not practical. Similarly, some negative thoughts could be more practical.
It’s evident that the “bear” doesn’t appear right behind you at 2 meters!
Now, let’s set aside the story from the beginning and look for the answer to the question:
What options do we have in approaching a dangerous situation?
Positive, but Unrealistic Approach:
The example of thoughts like “Oh, what a cute and loving animal!” or “Life is beautiful, beer is good.” It’s about a tendency to ignore the imminent danger and approach the situation with an extremely positive perspective, which may not be the most practical or safe.
It’s like trying to cross a busy boulevard with your eyes closed and relying on positive thinking. Is that about strategical thinking?
Evasive Approach:
Characterized by thoughts like “Ouch! It’s going to eat me, I better run as fast as I can!” or “What’s the point of running?” It’s about the impulsive reaction to avoid danger.
Indeed, it’s also about realizing that sometimes running is not an efficient solution.
Realism and Pragmatism:
Thoughts emphasizing the bear’s speed and concluding that running may not be a practical option suggest a more realistic and pragmatic approach.
It’s possible that in dangerous situations, an objective analysis of circumstances provides more chances of survival than impulsive reactions.
What’s the solution?
When such situations arise, a strategic approach is always useful.
What is the meaning of strategic versus tactics?
The strategy, by definition, is the action that naturally puts you in a winning position. That is about strategical thinking. The first step:
Awareness of the Effects of Thoughts
There’s an influence of thoughts on mental and physical well-being, energy levels, and the relaxation associated with positive thoughts.
Mental attitude can influence behavior and response to stressful situations and the level of creativity in responding to difficult situations.
I’m now thinking about the practice of mindfulness dedicated to strategic situations.
Let’s clarify because confusion often arises: strategy is what happens before the battle, and tactics are what happens after the battle occurs.
Sun Tzu says that a master wins the battle without a confrontation.
The idea is that it’s more important to win the battle than the confrontation. strategical thinking. The truth is that laurels, excellence diplomas, and decorations do not appear without a confrontation.
That was the first step. The next step is:
Continuous Learning
Ideally, we should learn from our experience and from the experience of other people who have demonstrated excellence in situations equivalent to the current challenge. That is about strategical thinking
Speaking of the experience of other people, organically, the next strategic solution arises:
A Supportive Community
From my point of view, social support is essential in managing challenges. Mastermind groups prove their usefulness here. The concept of the Mastermind group is not new; it is well described in Napoleon Hill’s book but is found in all situations where people gathered to find a solution or an answer: the advice of elders in tribes, Athenian democracy, or the courts around kings or religious conclaves.