Every deadline that matters to us comes with an “IF”—a condition that, if met, either adds something to our lives or at least prevents a loss.
On one hand, deadlines motivate us to address the issue at hand. On the other, if the time required to meet them pushes the limits of our capabilities or the goal seems unattainable, they prioritize our programmed, automatic behavior, trapping us in a “hamster wheel” in the long term.
This example may seem overly dramatic compared to our human existence, but it highlights that in both cases—hunting or fleeing—a conflict is active, a heightened state for survival. (Here, the thyroid gland is directly involved, and other organs indirectly, as the individual taps into hidden reserves to achieve the goal.)
The intensity of the conflict depends on how important the value tied to the deadline is to us and how easily we can meet the conditions. The closer we get to the deadline, the more we feel we’re “running out of time,” intensifying the conflict.
This means that the more time presses us, the more we rely on “tried-and-true” beliefs, habits, and customs, and the less we reflect on the basis or significance of our choices.
A simple example: when we rush into a store to quickly finish shopping, we don’t stop to weigh which of the 45 detergents to choose, analyze their ingredients, or compare price-to-value ratios. Instead, we grab what we’re used to—what’s “proven” to work—or what we saw in an ad, believing it works for others.
More importantly, the same happens with political or health-related choices when we feel endangered or out of time: we choose the solution we’re accustomed to.
It’s been “good” so far (we’re still alive, after all), and we haven’t learned or explored other options or skills we could apply in the situation.
This is why, when we receive a frightening diagnosis, it’s often (mostly) too late to discuss our beliefs.
"Please step onto the conveyor belt; hungry crocodiles await at the end!”
If the individual takes the authority’s words seriously, by the time that date arrives, they face such an overwhelming number and intensity of conflicts related to their illness, fear of death, diagnosis, or prognosis that they essentially ensure the prognosis comes true.
This is an extreme example, but in almost every case, we hinder our regeneration if we ignore the biological natural laws and the processes occurring within us.
Unfortunately, no matter how much we hurry, the pace and rhythm of the processes within us won’t speed up.
If an active conflict phase genuinely lasts a year, the regeneration phase won’t be shorter. (Though symptom intensity naturally varies during the process.)
However, expecting a year-long regeneration to occur in a few weeks not only deceives us but also creates new conflicts every week or two (whenever we expect the process to end). At each milestone, we’ll feel disappointed in ourselves and our body’s regenerative capacity, reinforcing the belief that we’re not functioning properly.
