Chapter 62
Night Watch and Napoleon's Fire
That same night, Rostóv was with a platoon on skirmishing duty in front of Bagratión’s detachment. His hussars were placed along the line in couples and he himself rode along the line trying to master the sleepiness that kept coming over him. An enormous space, with our army’s campfires dimly glowing in the fog, could be seen behind him; in front of him was misty darkness. Rostóv could see nothing, peer as he would into that foggy distance: now something gleamed gray, now there was something black, now little lights seemed to glimmer where the enemy ought to be, now…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Anticipation Energy
Think of a situation where you're currently waiting for an outcome you can't control—a job interview result, medical test, relationship decision, or major life change. Write down what you actually can control versus what you cannot control in this situation. Then identify three specific ways you've been spending mental energy on this waiting period.
Consider:
- •Notice whether your mental energy is going toward productive preparation or fantasy scenarios
- •Identify which waiting behaviors make you feel more in control versus actually being more prepared
- •Consider how you might redirect nervous energy into concrete actions rather than mental loops
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when anticipation energy led you to take action that actually improved your situation. What made that different from times when the waiting just created more anxiety?
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