What 🐂 Can Teach Us about Resilience (don’t be a 🐮!)

Did you know that cows and buffalo are a model of what to do (and what NOT to do!) when building radical resilience in our lives?

Assuming that at least a few of you haven’t heard this yet, (and perhaps a few of you might benefit from hearing this again!) here’s an amazing difference between these two animals:

When cows sense a storm coming their way, their natural inclination is to try and run away from it.

Unfortunately, cows aren’t exactly the fleetest of hoofed animals, so their attempts to outrun (avoid the discomfort) of the storm ultimately fail. (I can imagine those poor cows!)

In the process, they end up spending the maximum amount of time in the storm.

Why?

Because they actually run in the same direction as the storm, never getting through it!!

No matter how hard they try to escape, they end up spending more time in the storm without actually moving beyond it.

Now, buffalo on the other hand - utilize a very different approach.

Check this out:

When buffalo sense a storm coming, their natural inclination is to immediately start running towards the storm.

In other words, no matter how severe the storm is, they run straight into it!! 

While this might seem foolish at first glance, these intrepid buffaloes actually spend the least amount of time in the discomfort and perils of the storm. 

Now, because they are running face first into the storm (well, assuming buffalo haven’t figured out how to run backwards yet!) they probably do experience a slightly higher degree of discomfort running into the storm. After all, storms where buffalo live are no joke!

But here’s why they do it: 

Buffalo make this trade-off to get through the storm in the most efficient way possible!

They know that, over the long term, they’ll experience less discomfort and emerge on the other side! (Plus, they probably get used to the feeling and feel more confident over time!)

So, why am I talking about cows and buffalo and how they respond to inclement weather?? (No, I’m not opening a ranch somewhere!!)

Because the contrast between how these similar animals react to a storm is a phenomenal metaphor for why building a radically resilient strategy makes all the difference. 

How you respond to life’s inevitable storms—setbacks, failure, stress, rejection, fear, etc.—is key to whether you make it better or worse for yourself (and those around you!) 

If you try to avoid the storm, you’ll end up maximizing your discomfort. The more you try to escape life’s difficulties, the more they’ll follow you. (And trust me, we’re not fast enough to outrun them!)

In contrast, when you know you have a solid strategy in place—trustworthy resources, tools, support, techniques, etc.— it’s far easier to access your God-given bravery and run straight into your challenges. 

You’ll experience some short term discomfort, but by confronting your issues (not trying to escape them!) you’ll emerge stronger, better, and wiser.

You’ll optimize the amount of time you spend experiencing success, happiness, peace, fulfillment, and freedom!! 

Just like the buffalo, that seems like a pretty awesome trade-off to me!

Plus - when you choose to demonstrate Buffalo like Radical Resilience - it makes everyone around you more likely to be Radically Resilient as well (just imagine your entire team - or - your entire family - immediately squashing challenges - so everyone gets to spend more time growing, learning, celebrating, and thriving !!).

But, without a resilience strategy in place—one that reflects a healthy sense of self-awareness—you’ll find yourself using the cow’s strategy.  (and it will influence everyone around you to do the same - creating more conflict, resistance, procrastination, and struggle!).

Trust me, it'll cost you much much more in the long run!

So, let me ask you a question (especially after all this buffalo talk!)

How do you respond to life’s storms? 

Are you a radically resilient buffalo?

Or are you a terrified cow?