by george chavez

Created on: March 01, 2009   Last Updated: May 29, 2011

Resolve is something you are born with I think. It is not a learned emotion but is actually one that people are born with. Everyone has some resolve. The strength, amount, and use of it is a different matter. Usually resolve comes to the fore when facing some daunting task or threat, perhaps a stressful situation.

Some people do not at all realize that they have resolve somewhere inside their psyche. Others believe they have tons of solid steel resolve in their make-up. The former use this emotional tool with the strength and weight of a powder-puff while the latter tend to use the sledgehammer approach. One is too little, the other too much. The people who exist between these two extremes use resolve effectively and when it is needed.  

For instance a person with little resolve tends to shy away from confrontation, melts under the heat of stress, or completely gives in to most any threat. Everyone seems to know this type. They are the cringing laggards and brown-noses in the office, or the spouse/mate that has no spine. They are the ones who will push women and children down in order to flee from a burning building. In other words they  would rather switch than fight. As an analogy in a fight they would throw peas at a battleship. Not a very effectual to handle things.

On the other hand, the sledgehammer people take heavy swings at everything with little control or conscience. It is in them to put forth their iron resolve for any circumstance. Even when little or none is necessary. They tend to just hammer away when confronted with a task, threat, or stressful situation. Everyone seems to know this type of person too. Perhaps she is the bully in the office, the one that always has what she believes to be the right answers for every little problem. They are usually stubborn and do not usually make the best spouses. These people tend to make small problems turn into bigger ones by overreacting and "...not taking any crap..." An analogy for them is smiting fleas with a sledgehammer. 

The powder-puffs are needed in society and are usually docile folk who can be found in every walk of life except perhaps the obvious roles such as policemen, soldiers, prison guards, and of course politicians. The sledgehammer's are also needed as fighters and protectors, also found in every walk of life in which strong resolve is needed. The two seem to balance each other out.

But it is the middle-grounders who keep this society running smoothly. They use their resolve when needed and in the right ways. Everyone knows this type of person. An analogy for the middle-grounders was voiced by a famous U.S. president. His name was Theodore Roosevelt and he seemed to sum the issue of resolve up pretty nicely.

"Walk softly, but carry a big stick."

Learn more about this author, george chavez.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.