Scientists have noted the “Fight or Flight” response in humans and say it is an instinctive response to a perceived harmful or stressful event.
A third response is “Freeze” – or to become incapacitated. We won’t spend much time on that response since it entails doing nothing.
A third option?
For discussion purposes a new model could be “Fight, Flight, or Light.”
I think the “Light” response is inherit in our DNA but many people are not aware or conscious of the power of this response.
The Light response involves us going to a calm and spiritual place within ourselves.
Occasionally we may observe someone who responds to stressful situations from a place of Spirit. It is from a place of Love – bringing light to darkness. Bringing calm, loving, healing energy to the presence of fearful, hurtful or angry energy. Often it can diffuse the situation and when it doesn’t it can still be beneficial to our health and stress level.
From this place we make better choices and decisions and as a result we take more effective actions. How does this apply in a practical sense to our lives/careers?
Here is a real life situation…
The price of oil has plummeted in recent months and south Louisiana and Texas are beginning to feel the effects of the depressed world prices for oil.
Here are 4 possible responses:
Freeze: Don’t take any action – become paralyzed by the circumstances.
Flight: Start getting in a panic mode – firing employees and making drastic cuts are the first order of business.
Fight: Get mad and become combative.
- Spend lots of energy condemning OPEC
- See what you can do to bring your market share up by attacking your competition
- Make demands and threats to your employees – create a “we are at war” environment.
- Make demands on your vendors for huge cuts in their pricing.
Light: Stay in a place of calm and Spirit.
- Meet with employees and get them involved (let them voice their fears first)
- Reassure employees and then get their ideas on how they can help the company save money with cost cutting ideas
- Solicit their ideas on what they can do to improve productivity,
- Ask for any ideas that may help the company improve market position
- Meet with vendors and ask for their help in reducing our costs (not demand huge cuts in price).
- Meet with Customers and ask what you can do to help them first, then ask for their help.
The next time you find yourself in a perceived stressful situation become aware of which response mode you are in. By raising our awareness level we can make a conscious choice to move from Flight, Fight, or Freeze to the Light response.
By making this conscious shift we will be more effective and less stressed (and so will the people around you).
The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.
~ Lao Tzu
Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.
~ James Thurber
Becoming more aware
In so many of the books I am reading and CDs I am listening to, I am receiving the message that our level of awareness and consciousness will determine how happy, joyful, productive, spiritual, healthy, etc. we are. In other words we need to raise our awareness level and consciousness to improve the quality of our lives.
I have been focusing on raising my awareness and consciousness for the last few months and have seen a marked improvement in the quality of my life and the effectiveness of my interactions.
So consider becoming focused on your level of awareness and on your responses to perceived problems. By being more aware you increase your chances of responding from a place of Light. This will decrease the drama and conflict in your career and in your personal life. And it will improve the results you get in your career and improve the quality of your relationships in your personal life.
Write the following on an index card and place on your desk or in your pocket and pull it out often:
- Flight – Fight – Freeze
- LIGHT
- Which do I choose?
Tip of the Day
Here’s a blunt question – “Are you taking care of your body and your health?”
I ask this not to have you feel guilty or blame yourself in any way. I ask this question because I have friends who didn’t take care of their bodies for years and now are in less than ideal health. They can’t go back in time.
But you can go forward starting today.
If you are taking care of your body congratulations! If you aren’t, be kind to yourself and love yourself enough to start exercising, eating healthier, and getting enough sleep (and mix in some fun in there too). Don’t kick this can down the road – Start Now!! Your Quality of Life depends on it!
All the best 🙂 – Joyfully yours, Greg
BE GRATEFUL and spread kindness – it will all come back to YOU!!