Follow up:

During any crisis, its more of what happens within the person than what occurs around him or her that defines the outcome. I read an extraordinary true story of a hostage who was trapped alone in a convenience store she worked in, with a gunman for over 36 hours. This gunman had shot and killed over 8 people in the vicinity before taking her as his hostage.

It was nothing but amazing to read about her recalling the entire incident. Although the single mother was overwhelmed with fear initially, she was equally obsessed with the hunger to survive the crisis. Unarmed and too weak to put up a fight with the gunman, she had to think of another way of getting out of there alive. Nothing else was on her mind. She wanted to hold her baby in her arms again and see her grow up.

These thoughts drove her on, moment after moment…hour after hour.

Of all possibilities, she began to think of a way to convince her captor to free her. Although her initial attempts to start a conversation with him failed, her persistence and willpower won. What began as short and abrupt responses gradually turned into prolonged conversations between them. She was able to gain his confidence to such an extent that he decided to set her free unharmed.

Had she panicked, she would not have been in a position to think of an escape plan. She had to mentally stabilize her emotions and focus on a way to get away from the gunman.

Therefore, it is as important for us to maintain a positive attitude even during the most difficult situations in life as it is under any normal circumstance.

Only when you are calm and composed can you expect to think of a practical solution that will get you through safely. Losing hope and confidence is the last thing you need at that point of time.

As much as we all try to avoid any tragedy and crisis, it is best to be prepared for it before and when it happens.

It takes absolute courage, right frame of mind and determination to lie motionless on the ground and play dead when you are being chased by a wild bear even though running for your life may seem like the best way to get as far away from the bear as possible. Doing the former gives you a much better chance of surviving a bear attack.