Survival of the fittest, not the fastest


People say that our fight/flight responses evolved because our Stone Age ancestors had to be quick to escape from predators, like sabretooth tigers. We were kept safe from life-threatening dangers by this instant response, kicking in before there was time to think. Evolution ensured that those with the quickest responses were the ones who survived.

Nowadays we no longer face such dangers; our stress responses seem misplaced.  How stupid we can feel when we respond with panic to something as seemingly trivial as being late for an appointment or burning the dinner!

Personally, I doubt that Stone Age humans spent much time running from sabretooth tigers. If survival depended on a quick getaway, then children, babies and pregnant women would have been the first to get caught and the human race would be doomed. Rather, survival of the tribe depended on people looking after each other and especially on crucial tasks such as gathering food while it was available, storing it wisely, stitching clothes together for warmth, keeping the cave warm and making sure everyone was fed. The ‘fittest’ for survival would be those with a sense of urgency about getting the domestic tasks done and not letting the tribe down. 

So next time you’re anxious about getting to work on time, cooking a meal, or paying the power bill – don’t beat yourself up. We have evolved to care about these things as matters of survival. Congratulate yourself on being a survivor – someone who sees the importance of pulling your weight for your tribe. And remember that fortunately, our survival is not as precarious as it was for cave dwellers. If we burn the dinner, there are usually other alternatives.

                                                                                                     Stephanie Hills ©


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