Chapter 92
When Crisis Reveals Character
The war was flaming up and nearing the Russian frontier. Everywhere one heard curses on Bonaparte, “the enemy of mankind.” Militiamen and recruits were being enrolled in the villages, and from the seat of war came contradictory news, false as usual and therefore variously interpreted. The life of old Prince Bolkónski, Prince Andrew, and Princess Mary had greatly changed since 1805. In 1806 the old prince was made one of the eight commanders in chief then appointed to supervise the enrollment decreed throughout Russia. Despite the weakness of age, which had become particularly noticeable since the time when he thought…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Crisis Response Pattern
Think of a recent time when you and someone close to you were both worried about the same problem but ended up arguing about how to handle it. Write down what you were both actually afraid of versus what you were fighting about. Then identify three early warning signs that you're turning an ally into an opponent during a crisis.
Consider:
- •Focus on the underlying fear, not who was 'right' about the solution
- •Look for moments when you criticized their method of helping rather than the actual problem
- •Notice if you were trying to control small details because the big picture felt overwhelming
Journaling Prompt
Write about a current situation where you might be competing with an ally instead of collaborating. How could you redirect that energy toward the real problem?
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