It’s possible to establish a logic linking being right or avoiding to be wrong with survival.

Confusing a saber-toothed tiger for a cat is putting one’s life at risk.

Independently from the luck, it would be to see a saber-toothed tiger, assuming that every situation is comparable to such an encounter, is also putting one’s life at risk. Avoiding to drink water out of fear that it is poisoned is betting on the wrong odds if you are dehydrated with no other solution in sight.

It’s easy to dismiss the above with the idea that they are extreme cases. It’s true, and yet, it’s a behavior we can observe over and over with people feeling under pressure. I see it in seminars in which people are asked to show up with their work. I see it when people struggle with their own goals. The moment of showing up is dreadful. Peers looking at their work compare to saber-toothed tigers.

It takes a lot of understanding and attention to help students see the opportunity of having others comment on their work. It takes a lot of role modeling and attention towards the group to help them see the opportunity to learn from sharing generously and kindly. It always requires an individual willingness to be vulnerable and open. Once the group has discovered the benefit of supporting each other, it has done a huge step forward and started to create a safe environment.