The 'Fight Or Flight' Response

In modern times, conflicts are so generic that we have become accustomed to hearing, observing and reading about them almost on a daily basis. The world has seen it all, from international war and cataclysm right down to the plague of local thugs and browbeaters. Even on a personal level, I'm sure most of us have faced tonnes of situations in the past where we have had to make the difficult choice between 'fight' or 'flight'. So, what would you do if such a predicament crept up in your life tomorrow?

Personally, I don't remember the last time I had chosen the 'flight' response... It has always been in my nature to take everything head on, no matter how small or big the challenge is and irrespective of the mental or physical exertion required to overcome it. My instincts have perpetually driven me to rise to the occasion and never back down! And although today I can honestly confess, with a certain amount of pride I might add, that I've always lived to tell the tale, is the 'fight' response necessarily and invariably the wisest choice? I'm not sure...

If you unwaveringly knew that something would definitely kill you, or at least wound you to the extent that you wouldn't be able to live life the same way ever again, would you (or rather should you) still decide to fight it out? Would it still be worth it in a practical world far from idealism? That's a hard nut to crack! On the one hand you have the 'fight' response, backed by bravery, egoism and indignation, and on the other hand you have the 'flight' response, which mainly focuses on self-preservation...

Science tells us that either choice refers to an automatic response that our mind generates, making our body adapt instantaneously, to counter internal or external stress, termed by some as 'fear'. It is an unpleasant emotion that can be triggered by events ranging from an impending accident to the perception of even the tiniest threat. But let's feel this astounding transformation taking place, for a second... The epinephrine released into our blood immediately increases our heart rate, helps us breathe faster and blood is directed away from our digestive organs to the muscles and limbs for extra energy... Our eyesight sharpens and as if time slowed down, situational awareness is greatly increased, our thinking speeds up and perception of pain is enormously reduced!

For a short while, even an average joe can assume superpowers that are hard to fathom! Imagine all the miracles that could be brought to pass if we could voluntarily access and channel all that hidden potential... But this makes you wonder... If fear can do so much for you, why do people commend you on being fearless? What does it truly mean to be gutsy? I'd say it simply makes an allusion to the achievement of a high degree of self-mastery and mental control, where you respond with deliberate action to eliminate the imminent danger, rather than get all tensed up about it and act irrationally.

I guess the bottom-line of what I'm trying to convey is that while all that adrenaline is flooding our blood stream, the split second decision to either fight or run, although sometimes implicating a shear leap of faith, should only be taken after weighing the odds of winning against the chances of sustaining permanent damage in any respect. After all, it defies logic to throw away all of nature's gifts for something trivial or petty, but it does make an enormous amount of sense to firmly stand by your prudent beliefs and persevere to achieve your goals in life!