There are times when conditions, fitness and skills are perfectly matched, yet the mission fails. Here, the adventurer must understand and master the domain of emotion and mind.
Scenario 1: Fear and the flight reaction
Imagine you are well on your way to a summit through a difficult stretch of rock. The climber above knocks a flurry of rocks over you which fly past you into the abyss below. Your body tenses, eyes widen, lips pull back and you become stiff. A wave of fear engulfs your body. All you can think about is the awful consequences of an imminent error and a fall (worry). You start to tremble, hesitate and cannot move forward. Every move presents ghastly consequences. You are having a flight reaction.
Scenario 2: Anger and the fight reaction
A client you are guiding fails to follow instructions putting the group and mission at risk. Your eyebrows furrow down and in, the heat of anger rises to your chest, fists and face. Your mind says it is all their fault (rumination). You shout and dress the client down aggressively. The group is shocked, and the client dismayed. The rest of the trip is awkward. Their reviews damage your reputation. You just had a fight reaction.
