Mortality

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The state of being subject to death; death, especially on a large scale; the state of being mortal, or susceptible to death; the opposite of immortality. This is another subject never discussed by those who encounter the types of conflict and violence that go beyond grave bodily harm to the doors of death. It is also one of those unspoken concepts that are ignored but are also core to the fear one feels when faced with violence be it self-defense or in the performance of their duties as police, military and other professions of the like. 

Add in “Mother Nature’s” encoded instincts of species avoidance of grave harm and death to others of their species. Except in rare cases or unless one of our species “Others” another of our species we run into this psychological obstacle that makes us hesitate to take such actions that will cause grave bodily harm or death. 

There is one more that comes to mind, that is social conditioning. We are socially conditioned more and more to become what one professional termed as, “Conflict-Averse (use violence in place of conflict as well).” Society has become so fearful of conflict and violence, the kind that leads to death, not the kind that humans use every single moment of every minute of their lives, that each generation through conditioning from ignorance and fear has moved the next generation farther and farther away from our very nature. What this has done is actually take us closer to conflict and violence of the extreme kind due to a lack of proper coping skills. 

It has become part of the social system that if we ignore it, we don’t learn about it in all its forms then we can avoid it but that is pure crap because to avoid it and deal with it using appropriate coping skills we have to learn it, study it, UNDERSTAND IT, and then learn and teach the appropriate skills to cope with it when it rears its head because, at one time in our lives, it will rear its head. Here is the rub, when it does it triggers fear, anger, resentment, etc., where our monkey brains take over while our bodies and minds hit the wall of adrenal stress-conditions from the reality that just will not go away no matter how hard we ignore it, condition others to fear it and refuse to learn, teach, practice and apply appropriate skills to handle it. 

Mortality is something that should be discussed as a subject in school along with human conflict and violence as well as coping skills and conflict resolutions strategies and tactics, self-defense, communications skills, and so on because to truly reduce the more dangerous types of conflict and violence means we have to deal with it, not hide from it.

Now, ain’t that easy enough? NOT, it takes hard word, diligent attention, mindful focus and lots of appropriate skills. Are we, the human species, up to it? Hmmmm, I wonder. 

Here is a list of societies foibles toward conflict and violence:

• Socially conflict averse.
• Teach conflict avoidance without appropriate coping skills.
• Remember, forget bad people because they just don’t care anyway.
• Good people need to look to others in handling conflict and violence.
• Rules are magic, it is reality, and if you make rules and repeat them often enough everyone will obey.
• Enforcement of rules, etc., is another form of violence so avoid addressing this issue as it goes against our rules.
• People will obey our rules.
• When members of the public shout out aggressively and with anger their fears no matter their validity we must listen and makes up rules to stop that.
• People will sleep better with our rules, they did what was necessary to get others so protect them and they can sleep soundly that the others will take the blame when the rules fail to - Rule.

Back to mortality, how do we address this obstacle? We identify it, we learn about it and we train to allow ourselves permission to use appropriate protective skills to remain safe and secure. You learn the skills to defend and protect and you give yourself permission to ignore and circumvent inappropriate socially driven conditions that would make you hesitate or freeze. You use the skills one you learn and understand conflict, violence and criminal behaviors, etc.

Yes, we are mortal and there are a gazzalion things in our environment that can get you dead but through appropriate recognition, study and understanding you can reduce those things, especially when coming from humans themselves, thus lowering your exposure to grave bodily harm and death. If I were to think of just one thing that would definitely induce the freeze it would be our unconscious fear of death, a mortality issue if there ever was one. 

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