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…