FFF - a natural reaction to the unknown and danger

The feeling of losing the ground beneath our feet is the hallmark of a crisis situation. People can experience it in their personal lives, as a part of a team or organization, or due to external circumstances. Losing ground and being unsure of how to proceed can lead to the "Fight, Flight, or Freeze" ("FFF" in short) response.

To overcome this most primal instinct, it is important in more complex situations to notice the crisis response. Remember to:

  1. 1. Stop and sense. Assess the situation.

It is important to take a moment to assess the situation instead of responding instantly. Collect the information and viewpoints from different sources. Define constraints. Make a list of possible next steps and look for patterns. Slow down and take a look at the bigger picture. Reframe and reappraise.

  1. 2. Choose what will be the best, not what will be instant. Bouncing back does not just happen, it needs some effort.

There is a tendency to praise instinct, like it's a talent someone was born with or not. Nevertheless, resilience emphasizes the importance of the conscious choice and awareness as its fundamental elements. As a result, being present when dealing with crises is essential.

Accepting that there is the FFF reaction built in our body as well as knowing there is a possibility to slow down and to make a conscious choice are two mental steps that can assist in regaining the ground under our feet and making a wise decision of what would be the best way to bounce back to the surface.

Our free self-paced Personal and Organizational Resilience course provides you with a deeper understanding of how to be strong and flexible as a leader, activist, or member of an organization. In addition to showing different ways of dealing with the FFF responses, it also shows what kind of information is important to look for and which choices are tested for better personal and organizational resilience.

✅ Take our Personal and Organizational Resilience course for activists to learn more about building your resilience to various forms of crises:

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