Chapter 224
When Victory Turns to Nightmare
Napoleon’s generals—Davout, Ney, and Murat, who were near that region of fire and sometimes even entered it—repeatedly led into it huge masses of well-ordered troops. But contrary to what had always happened in their former battles, instead of the news they expected of the enemy’s flight, these orderly masses returned thence as disorganized and terrified mobs. The generals re-formed them, but their numbers constantly decreased. In the middle of the day Murat sent his adjutant to Napoleon to demand reinforcements. Napoleon sat at the foot of the knoll, drinking punch, when Murat’s adjutant galloped up with an assurance that the…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
The Reality Check Audit
Think of one area of your life where you've been using the same approach for a long time—parenting, work, relationships, health. Write down what you've been doing, then honestly assess: is it actually working? List three concrete signs that would tell you if your approach is succeeding or failing.
Consider:
- •Focus on results, not intentions—what's actually happening versus what you hoped would happen
- •Consider feedback you might have been dismissing or explaining away
- •Ask yourself: if you started fresh today, would you choose this same approach?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you had to admit that something you'd invested heavily in—time, money, or identity—wasn't working. What made it hard to change course, and what finally helped you see clearly?
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