Dominance, what it does to and for you.

Thoughts inspired by Malcom Gladwells David & Goliath.

From David and Goliath: Twice a day for 40 days, Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, challenges the Israelites to send one of their own to fight him in single combat to determine the outcome of the battle. Fearful of the giant, neither King Saul nor any of the other Israelites accept the challenge. David, however, having come to the battle field to bring food to his elder brothers, hears of Saul’s promise to reward any man who defeats Goliath, and volunteers. The king reluctantly agrees and offers his armor, which David declines, choosing instead to fight Goliath with only his sling and five stones taken from a brook.

David and Goliath confront each other, Goliath with his armor and shield, and David with his stones and sling. “The Philistine cursed David by his gods,” (1 Samuel 17:43) but David replies, “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that God saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is God’s, and he will give you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:46–47).

David hurls a stone from his sling with all his might and hits Goliath in the center of his forehead. The Philistine falls to the ground, and David takes his sword and cuts off his head. The Philistines flee and are pursued by the Israelites “as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron”.

I think David teaches us a way to go about life. Way to often dominant players is given to much respect and space, it’s like we unconsciously agree to play their game. We don’t really want to win, we want to beat the opponent in their own game. Walk out with pride and dignity. So we fail, instead of challenging their game with our own game.

So why do we continue to play someone else’s game? I believe it has a lot to do with phycology and mind set. We often feel the need of having a strategy that works, its scientifically proven that this works. Here, its done. Take it. It works. So we play the dominants game with the hope to be better at it. Not many are willing to go with the uncertainty that comes with doing something new or different. We think we deserve certainty and it’s scary to be responsible for ones own fate. But I think by playing according to our own rules we empower and free ourselves. The uncertainty facilitates the possibility of chance. We become much more agile, faster at processing and reacting to situations and challenges. While the giant moves slow, with the belief of having everything settled and figured out.

I often catch myself trying to reinforce my ego around my strong sides as some kind of defense towards my weaknesses, kind of hoping to erase or hide the weaker spots. Trying to become a giant. Maybe you do this too?

The ego is great, but I believe in using it as a tool for certain situations rather than a mean to feel power and security (dominance). By thinking more about the situations we face and by controlling and applying the ego when it’s needed I think we can lead happier and more successful lives.

We will survive situations we normally wouldn’t, just like David.