I think therefore I am - How is your mental strength?

Do you recall your Theory of Knowledge or Philosophy classes? The saying "I think therefore I am"? In the 17th century, the French philosopher René Descartes came up with this as the "explanation for it all" This statement has been the source of debates in many a philosophy classes. It was the existential "which came first" story… the chicken or the egg.
If I choose to think someone has insulted me, then I am insulted. If I choose to think I am afraid, then I am afraid. If I choose to think I am impatient, then I am impatient. On the other side, if I choose to think I am at peace, then I am at peace (or at least headed in that direction). Or is it the other way round?

The point we are trying to make, for the purpose if this write-up, is that thoughts always precede the actions. Thus the importance of "managing" our thoughts and not let them run rampant. They are not the "directors" of our show. They are simply the precursors to action. The problem is that once you think a situation is hopeless, then you give up on it and do nothing… after all if it's hopeless, there is nothing you can do. Right? Wrong!
The key is to think "outside the box" of our habitual programmed thinking.

Let put this in the context of safety measures. You are confronted by an attacker. You have several options. Run away in panic, stop and asses the situation to "think" the best course of action or just totally surrender to the attacker without any thought because you are totally petrified.

If you are confronted by someone, the first thing is to asses the situation. Don't panic. Think! This may sound impossible but you can think even while you talk or run. What does this person want. What is my escape options and how can I accomplish this escape. Do I pull my Taser gun, stun gun or pepper spray out and use it? If I cannot easily escape should I give in? Will giving in lessen the risk of getting hurt?
Obviously these thoughts will go through your mind at the speed of light and it might take a split second to decide whether to run, fight or stand and talk it out. It takes training to actually think and decide on a plan of action, in the heat of the moment. This is why it is important to always have an exit strategy in case of emergency.

A good example of this is the incident that happened in March of this year. When Brian Nichols shot and killed a court judge in Atlanta, GA. He then escaped and eventually held Ashley Smith hostage. This is a perfect case of getting out of a bad situation by believing that it can be done. She picked the best option that "increased" her chances of survival.
"She acted very cool and levelheaded. We don't normally see that in our profession," Gwinnett County Police officer Darren Moloney said of Smith. "It was an absolutely best-case scenario that happened, a complete opposite of what you expected to happen. We were prepared for the worst and got the best. She was very strong through the whole thing," he said.

Some situations could end up being fatal no matter what you do and sometimes running may be the only option available. But being able to seize up a situation greatly improves survival chances. Practice, we think, is the best medicine. Thinking about what to do in an emergency is very helpful. It improves your confidence level and increases the chance that you will make the right decision at that critical moment. Think it, and good chance it will be.

WKA - Addo Enterprises