The domino effect refers to a situation that occurs in your day to day life…

It’s one of those (usually) unexpected things that causes an automatic “panic” reaction. You know, where you quickly see the thing becoming much larger and foreboding than just the incident itself.

The domino effect kicks in and you start imagining one thing leading to another. Your mind takes you (very quickly) from the situation at hand through a number of “logical steps”. One situation leading into another situation. Until the molehill has turned into a mountain. All along of course your apprehension and panic escalates as your adrenalin kicks in…

Now you find yourself in a highly “reactive” state.

You miss certain details which could give you a better sense of what is really going on because your panic has blinded you to the all important facts. What really comprises the true impact of the situation are those facts. By this point the domino effect has caused you to say things and taken action which has probably made the situation worse than what it needs to be.

All this taking place in a matter of minutes and seconds.

A lot of wasted time and energy. Because it takes your mind and body ten times longer to recover!

If you had considered all the facts (before reacting) maybe the situation could have been dealt with unemotionally in a very rapid manner. It would have been resolved, competed and chalked up to experience. The problem with the domino effect is that your mind goes wild with “what could be”… As far as your mind is concerned “what could be” suddenly becomes your reality… and your body reacting to what the mind perceives as real causes all sorts of hormones and substances to be injected into the bloodstream. After all, the body is in survival mode!

So, finally when all is said and done. Minutes or even hours have passed and many levels of panic, anger and outright fear has taken a toll on your mind (and body). To what end? Did anything really come of that situation?

95% of the time nothing of any real consequence.

The domino effect is a good thing when we you are faced with real imminent danger. You want rapid consideration of potential outcomes. It’s essential that you make the best possible decision in the shortest amount of time. Unless life and death is hanging over your head, however, you need to catch yourself when you recognize that a domino effect is about to happen. Does the new situation at hand really warrant the “what ifs” and the panic? Usually it doesn’t.

Back away and review the facts before you take any action!

You will find that you probably have more than enough time to do this. It’s remarkable how quickly your mind can give you the best possible course of action. Especially when its not being attacked by mind altering substances (adrenalin and fear).

-Bob Baran