Many of us (myself included) may be feeling in these times of crisis that we have retreated from our usual bolder selves, and become, to a degree, less confident. After all, how can someone be taking bold steps when so much is on the line? The usual confidence that accompanies job changes, undertaking new projects, asking out a crush, speaking your mind, can now seem silly, frivolous, or too costly given the circumstances.
Though, is this the right way to think about it? Could there be any arguments for the idea that these are the times in which we should be having the most confidence? For all we know, this could nearly be the end of organized human civilization. There is a global pandemic, creeping authoritarianism from the hegemonic ruler of the Western empire, genocidal neglect worldwide in the wake of a killer virus, an ever impending climate crisis, civil unrest in Lebanon, typical authoritarianism from the main competitor for hegemonic rule from the East, among other things. If it were foretold that these were our last months of life, would we not be more bold and systematically tackle our bucket lists?
There are interesting results from the cognitive sciences that can lend wisdom in these times. Our neurological makeup can give us clues to why we become so frozen during crisis. And subsequent studies of political psychology and cognitive science can lend us further insight…
