Fight or flight is a physiological response that occurs when we find ourelves in acute stress. The reaction is triggered by the release of hormones that prepare the body to physically take on a threat or to run away. Most of us know the fight or flight impulse, either from personal experience or at least from films that cause us to yell “yeah” when the bad guy is taken down by the good guy, or when a horror movie depicts a scene that is so scary we feel the need to cover our eyes. Yet fight or flight is only half of the cohort of bodily reactions to frightening threats. There are two other autonomic responses that don’t get as much attention, but invariably show up: freeze or fawn.
Since the November election all four of these responses have been on vivid display across media platforms, or in conversations at Thanksgiving dinners, gyms, soccer fields or grocery stores. Many people are feeling, at very deep levels, one or more of them — some at the same time. More than a handful of people have told me they are exploring moving out of the country (flight). Others say they are ready to barricade themselves in front of people who are targets for deportation (fight). Still others are feeling emotionally paralyzed by the election and the rollout of cabinet nominees(freeze). And there is a whole cohort of Americans who are celebrating that – finally – the right leader has been elected to set a country plagued by corruption, elitism, and wokeism, back on the right track (fawn).
These responses are real. The human family – not to mention the animal kingdom (of which we are a constituent part) have been experiencing these reactions for as long as life has existed on the planet. The circumstances of today are unique and different, to be sure, but the dynamics of fight, flight, freeze and fawn are the same. And they need to be acknowledged, if not honored.
And dealt with.
Not by stoking the body’s hormonal reactions, particularly the fight/flight response, tempting though that may be, and which too many politicians and pundits are encouraging us to do. But with some reflective discernment, which takes into account a larger landscape than our own individual fears.
Early in the 20th century, Mohandas Gandhi led the struggle for Indian rights in South Africa. He called it satyagraha, a Sanskrit term which literally means “holding firmly to truth”. For Gandhi, first in South Africa, and then in his native India, satyagraha involved non-violent resistance to the world’s demonstrations of power, which was power over, particularly if a person or group was marginalized or deemed less worthy. Satyagraha insisted on developing a society and culture where power can be shared, where everyone’s presence and contributions are valued, and where truth is something to be cherished rather than manipulated. While not a Christian, Gandhi said that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount “went straight to my heart”; and Jesus’ admonition to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39) was a foundational aspect of the non-violent movement. Gandhi’s ideas and work profoundly influenced Martin Luther King in this country and Nelson Mandela in South Africa as that country emerged from apartheid in 1991.
Non-violence is not passive. Nor is it limited to protest, which is how it is often depicted. Non-violence is a path between inaction and hostility. It requires courage and fortitude. Non-violence emphasizes people’s empowerment and shared responsibility.
I would suggest that one of the most effective ways to participate in satygraha and non-violence is through engagement. With words, yes, but more importantly, by developing and fostering relationships. Relationships with others, and relationships with one’s community. Relationships fortify the individual soul, strengthen the fabric of the community, and render each of us less vulnerable to the forces and voices that want to wield power over others. Relationships can bring us closer to a truth that can be recognized by all, and at the same time can stand up to the assaults from the engines of disinformation.
Relationships fortify democracy. Relationships, especially across difference, can preserve, if not save democracy. We need to acknowledge our reactions to fight or flight –and freeze and fawn — in ourselves, and from the countless messages that besiege us every day. Acknowledge them – and then work to resist them. Build a relationship with someone, somewhere. Yes, it is pushing a big rock up a steep hill. It is hard – and necessary. And it will contribute to the health and strength of our communities and souls.
