Chapter 36
Under Fire for the First Time
The last of the infantry hurriedly crossed the bridge, squeezing together as they approached it as if passing through a funnel. At last the baggage wagons had all crossed, the crush was less, and the last battalion came onto the bridge. Only Denísov’s squadron of hussars remained on the farther side of the bridge facing the enemy, who could be seen from the hill on the opposite bank but was not yet visible from the bridge, for the horizon as seen from the valley through which the river flowed was formed by the rising ground only half a mile away.…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
The Spotlight Effect Reality Check
Think of a recent moment when you felt exposed, embarrassed, or like you failed publicly. Write down what you thought everyone else was thinking about you in that moment. Then flip the script: if you had witnessed someone else in that exact same situation, what would you actually have been thinking about? How much attention would you have really paid to their mistake?
Consider:
- •Consider what you were personally dealing with during times when others around you made mistakes
- •Think about how quickly you forget other people's small embarrassments versus how long you remember your own
- •Notice the difference between how harshly you judge yourself versus how you judge others in similar situations
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you were certain everyone was judging you, but later realized they were too busy with their own concerns to notice your struggle. How did this realization change how you approach similar situations now?
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