Hi, hope you are well.

I actually, had a déjà vu that I already wrote about this, although I never had. I’ve learned playing chess either in late 2020 or 2021. Since then, I liked playing it but played rarely.

So, how do I compare chess game and triggers?

Definition of a trigger – an event that is the cause of a particular action, process, or situation.

We all get triggered at certain things, events or by some people. When this happens, usually our threat system kicks in, and we do one of these things – flight, freeze or fight.

When you play chess, you get triggered and your response is the same as our threat system would respond – don’t move – freeze/ back down – flight/ or practically same one is fight – fight.

During chess game, I have noticed that these are my main responses and then it hit me, that I don’t attack an opponent. I don’t choose different action, so I end up having a stalemate. Like, I’m so good at avoiding, making myself safe and protected that I didn’t even think of 4th option.

4th option on the chess board – you can make entirely new move, and you can make an action. The new move – trigger an opponent. Let’s say, you see an opportunity to attack king, so instead of focusing what they are triggering (attacking) on your side, you refocus on them. That is a new response, new way of going and that is a change.

This analogy so nicely resonates with me and reality – I struggle to assert myself, I struggle to change and think differently. I struggle to make an action, and I allow my threat systems go out of the roof. I got back to an old belief system. In my present, the past is taking over, I still allow someone else to be in control how the things will go instead of me taking control of my moves.

My chess game is the same. I am making same moves – stalemate, but I am not thinking forward, no strategy, just trying to protect myself and stay safe.

Slowly, I’m learning to take an action and attack. I’m learning to think beyond protection mode and take risks. Which is not easy in both reality and chess game.

My advice – accept the challenge and do a different move. Win chess and win in life. 😉