Entering unknown territory can feel like walking into the lion’s den. The consequences ahead can stretch farther than the eye is willing to see. Our brains can recognize some visual information in only a fraction of a second, but noticing that something is there is not the same as fully understanding the danger in front of us. Sometimes we react before we have enough time to process everything around us. This is not the time to let your guard down. It is the time to stay alert, gather vital information, and look for warning signs, roadblocks, and anything that could point toward survival.

That does not mean you should tread so lightly that fear turns you into the target. It means being aware of what is around you, what may be following you, and what gives you the feeling that something is not right. A person’s gut instinct can act as an early warning, triggering natural responses such as fight, flight, or freeze. It can warn you when trouble may be near, but it can also make you hesitate when the situation feels overwhelming. The healthiest way to deal with that kind of fear is through preparation, not panic. Do not wait forever for the perfect time to act. Know when the necessary steps have been completed, and then make the final move.

Once the final move is made, it still may not feel like it is over. Sometimes it feels like the beginning of something else. I have learned that conflict can continue for as long as people keep feeding it. It can end before it begins, or it can carry on for decades through grudges that later bring irreversible consequences. Reputation and ego keep begging the same question: why? Why are we doing this to ourselves? Why are we the ones biting the bullet while others sit around talking about good times that never really happened?

The 7 P’s say it best: Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.