Chapter 241
A Mother's Terror and Moscow's Last Days
The Rostóvs remained in Moscow till the first of September, that is, till the eve of the enemy’s entry into the city. After Pétya had joined Obolénski’s regiment of Cossacks and left for Bélaya Tsérkov where that regiment was forming, the countess was seized with terror. The thought that both her sons were at the war, had both gone from under her wing, that today or tomorrow either or both of them might be killed like the three sons of one of her acquaintances, struck her that summer for the first time with cruel clearness. She tried to get Nicholas…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Crisis Response Audit
Think of a stressful situation you're currently facing or recently experienced. Write down all the things you've been focusing on or worrying about. Now divide them into two columns: 'Things I can actually control' and 'Things I'm using to avoid the real decision.' Look at your second column - what's the big, scary decision you're avoiding?
Consider:
- •Notice if you're spending more energy on the avoidance column than the control column
- •Ask yourself who in your situation is like Sonya - emotionally distant enough to see clearly
- •Consider whether your 'productive' activities are actually moving you toward a solution
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you got so caught up in controlling small details that you missed the bigger picture. What were you really afraid of facing, and how did avoiding it make things worse?
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