The curious case of the powerful versus the powerless

Last weekend I was again watching “Avatar” and having barbeque at a friend’s place when I noticed that cats fear humans.

This is a known fact even for those who fear cats. Now try to run quickly towards a cat and you will find it running away from you as quickly as it can. Now force that cat into a corner and run towards it then see its reaction.

Most probably you will find the cat stretching its body in order to appear taller instead of running. The cat felt insecure at this point and it found no other way to defend itself other than acting to be more powerful.

This brings us to an important understanding in life. That all organisms including humans can choose to show off or even to challenge you when they feel insecure! A person might feel like showing off his power only when he believes he is much less powerful than you. Avatar Movie hero: “The Turok is the only flying creature that never looks above it”

His friend: “Why?”

Avatar Movie hero: “Because it’s 100 per cent sure that no other bird will ever attempt to attack it from above”

Excuse me if I didn’t remember the quotes well as I got them out of my memory but the concept is still intact. The Turok was the most powerful flying bird in the movie and that’s why it was sure that no one would dare challenge it.

People show off their powers when they are unsure of it. This brings us to another very important understanding. Human beings start challenging each other by showing off when they are not sure that they can win.

Here are a few examples:

• Debates: During sessions people sometimes start to debate with the instructor in an aggressive way. These people are the ones who felt insecure after comparing themselves with the instructor and as a result they decided to challenge him to feel good about themselves!

• Showing off by talking: When someone suddenly starts to talk about his achievements or his victories in front of others, then make sure that he feels insecure in a way or another and that he is trying to gain ground

• Challenging someone to race with you! Had a person been sure about his ability to win a competition or a race then he would have never challenged you!

A secure person flies like “Toruk” in Avatar’s movie, he rarely feels insecure because he is sure that he is powerful enough to handle threats. So people show off their power only when they feel insecure about themselves.