There are two types of bovines on the plains of the Americas, and they handle problems in very different ways. The comparison of how each of the two big beasts resolve issues is a good metaphor for how we as people deal with our problems in life. Understanding the behaviors of these two animals when they encounter the same problem can help you understand your own method of facing challenges.

The first of the two bovines is the cow. Now, when a storm begins to roll over the plains, the cow sees the thunderous clouds and flashes of lightning coming towards it and it gets frightened.

Cows have low opinions of storms. They think storms are scary, miserable, and some cows don’t make it out of the storm alive. Basically, cows think that storms are mean and that they generally suck. The cow makes a foolish decision in its frightened state and it starts to run in the opposite direction of the storm. That seems like a logical solution, right?

Well, the problem with this solution is that when the storm catches up, the cow just keeps running in that same direction. Unfortunately for our milk-making friends, that means the cows are just running directly under the storm now, which is the exact opposite of what it sought to accomplish. Cows run away from problems and make things worse for themselves.

The cow is thinking that if it keeps running it can get away from the storm, not understanding that in the attempt to flee what it feared, it really just put itself in the heart of the problem because now its running with the storm.

What the cow really accomplishes is that it prolongs its suffering because running along with the storm makes the whole ordeal last much longer than necessary. The cow gets caught in the storm for such a long time because it travels with the storm, unknowingly following it around like a dog chasing its tail. Don’t be a cow. Cows end up drenched, muddy, cold, and looking like total idiots.

The other type of bovine is the buffalo. We should all model after the buffalo. In case you didn’t know, buffaloes are bad-ass. The buffalo sees the storm coming, and like an absolute champion, it starts running towards the storm.

The buffalo powers through the rain and wind and lightning and comes out on the other side of the storm once again welcomed by the warmth of sunshine, leaving its less fortunate and less courageous cousins behind.

The buffalo is smart. It knows that either way it has to endure the torment of the storm. There is no escape from the storm on the plains. Where would it hide? Under a rock? Last time I checked, its pretty hard to hide a buffalo.

By running towards the storm, instead of away from it, the buffalo shortens the time it has to suffer and lengthens the time it gets to enjoy grazing in the sunshine of the great plains.

We as human beings tend to react to the problems we face in life in much of the same way as these bovines.

Some of us, the more courageous type of human being, know that if we face the problem head on and run towards it, then we can get through the discomfort quickly and spend less time drenched in the metaphorical storm of our challenges and sorrows. These people are buffaloes.

The other type of human being, the less courageous type, tends to operate in the same foolish mindset as the cow, running from our problems. Foolishly thinking that we are fast enough to outrun problems is what makes us end up spending more time than was ever necessary suffering through them. These people are the cows.

Instead of having the courage to confront our problems and let them pass over us, we follow them around under the false assumption that running away from problems means we can escape them.

The mentality of the cow is what allows mental clutter and stress to fester and continue to propagate in our minds. The cow type of person avoids the problem and amplifies it through the avoidance response.

We have to take ownership of our problems. We have to take responsibility for our suffering. I’ve never heard a successful person say that avoiding problems and being cowardly is what lead to their eventual success.

Be the buffalo. The buffalo confronts the challenge and charges it. When you see the storm, run towards it and get it over with sooner rather than prolonging it. Don’t try to convince yourself that you can outrun your problems. You’ll just end up like the drenched and miserable cows, running along with the storm like a big fool.

Would you rather be the buffalo or the cow? Do you face your challenges with the virtue of courage, or do you live in fear? Remember that fear is a mind-killer that destroys the ability to make effective use of logic and prevents you from finding intelligent solutions.

When you feel fear bubble up in the face of adversity, remind yourself that the smart thing to do is to be the buffalo and run to it and through it. The courageous people still feel fear, but they don’t let it stop them. The coward feels fear and avoids, denies and rationalizes, but never faces the problem. Inevitably you will have to face it, so how long do you want to suffer?

Are you a buffalo, or are you a cow?

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