War is the continuation of politics by other means. – CARL VON CLAUSEWITZ (1780-1831)
Playing on people’s natural paranoia instead of threatening openly. Make the enemy think that they found you plotting for a countermove – more effective than telling them. Let them hear something that causes for concern and “Inadvertently spy on you”.
Amygdala
- The physiological changes are hardwired into us – we don’t have to learn them
- Always involved in creating anxiety response
- Feelings of anxiety result when the Amygdala creates a stress response
- When it happens, Cortex ability is diminished
- Stress Response – Hostile takeover of consciousness by emotion
- When activated, the Amygdala signals can influence and dominate the brain at all levels
- Retrain – necessary to engage in active responding
- Just do something in the grip of stress response – do not allow yourself to freeze
Tell some disturbing story about what you are capable of – using a go-between to send a message. This form of defensive warfare deters aggressors – by manipulating appearance and their perception of you. Must become adept at deception – infinitely applicable to daily life.
The more veiled menace and uncertainty you generate, the more imaginations will run away with them – the more dangerous an attack on you will seem. Take indirect action designed to make them think. Appeasing people can be as debilitating as fighting them.
Panic Attack
- Body launching into fight, flight, freeze response at inappropriate time due to an overreaction by Amygdala
- The central nucleus can cause a panic without involvement
- Trigger may be difficult to pinpoint, something has activated the Amygdala and initiated pain
- Coping mechanisms – Distraction, Exercise and muscle relaxation
- Deep breathing – slow and full deep breaths and extended chest
- Let go of concerns about what others are thinking – worrying about what others think creates additional stress
- No one cares
Deterrence, scaring off from attacking or getting in your way – save valuable energy and resources.
Forgetting our objectives – During the journey we commonly forget its goal. Almost every profession is chosen and commenced as a means to an end but continued as an end in itself. Forgetting our objectives is the most frequent of all acts of stupidity. Nietzsche (1844-1900)