A surefire tip for being eaten
The survival mechanisms in us are shrinking.
But they are still there! And are sometimes needed very quickly. They kick into action so fast that you ask yourself why I react like that.
More important than the reaction itself is the question of what I can learn from it.
A few weeks ago, I had a bizarre encounter.
My daily walks with the dogs take me across wide fields near a huge forest. We (me and my two dogs) usually walk for a good hour along the country lanes around the village. Deer, pheasants, and other harmless animals watch us closely.
The chance of being eaten on a harmless walk is extremely small, but not zero!
Then I saw him.
About 400 meters away from me, an impressive bear was rummaging in the thicket of a hedge. I ducked down in a flash and ordered my dogs to sit quietly. The wind blew in my favor.
The bear hadn't smelled me.
My heartbeat felt like a jackhammer way too loud in a graveyard.
I watched the bear. Which way was it going? Was it coming closer or moving away from me?
He wasn't impressed in his search for food.
An estimated minute felt like an eternity.
Some last few steps and the bear stood in the open field, but couldn't spot me because of the tall grass. It looked in my direction once but moved away from me. But something was still moving in the hedge.
My senses were working at full speed.
Never I hadn't been so aware of sounds and movements.
For a long time I hadn't been so focused.
Completely concentrated and present.
And then they stepped out of the undergrowth into the open field.
Two bear cubs tramped after their mother with their unmistakable clumsy steps. I stood up carefully, assured myself that the bears were marching in the "wrong" direction, and started on my way home. Regular glances behind me signaled a clear path and I walked away with quick steps.
I wasn't on the Mother Bear's menu today!
Nothing is more dangerous in Transylvania than a mother bear who sees her cubs in danger.
As a human, such a fight is hopeless and must be avoided at all costs. Fortunately, such accidents are rare as snow in August. We, humans, are not the preferred food of bears, and attacks are more likely directed at sheep than shepherds.
However, I'm fascinated by how our senses and focus switch to "survival mode" in seconds.
Focusing on something so much that everything else becomes unimportant is an art.
And one can learn and practice it. Imagine if you could pursue some goals in your work or personal life this way. You would achieve your goals faster. You would also work more carefully and with greater attention to detail.
This will be the topic of my new workshop. It will be about:
Setting goals,
how to set and achieve milestones
and how to train your focus on the right things.
But first things first: you can easily improve your focus and attention yourself.
Take regular walks (you don't need a dog for this). Consciously observe your surroundings. Listen to the sounds and try to perceive scents.
And elegantly avoid the next dog mess on the sidewalk instead of stepping all over it.
:-)
If you like how and what I write about, please spread the word.
Send this newsletter to a friend. Maybe he needs someone to help him focus on what's important.
You'll never know.
See you soon and with full focus,
Yours
Daniel
