While Mystique might be depicted as a horse here, and while horses have been known to charge at predators there is another natural force that has a much better chance at overcoming any obstacles it faces - termites.
These tiny unassuming critters have the ability to tear down entire houses. They can destroy structures in a matter of months. And if you’ve ever had to deal with these pests you can attest to the fact that they are resilient and crafty - more so than any other pests you find in urban areas.
So why would anyone want to resort to termite mentality? Why on earth would destruction be something to look up to?
Well, because sometimes you need a lot of little bits of determination to get through tough times, instead of a few big charges. While a herd of charging horses might have a big impact, that impact is short-lived. But a colony of termites can have huge consequences in the long run. On top of that, termites are drawn to seemingly sound structures. So while a herd of horses will run around a building, a termite infestation will chew right through the structure of a building like it’s nothing. And sometimes that’s exactly the mentality we need to get through tough times.
It’s easy to spot a herd of charging horses from a mile away, but termites could be munching away at something without anyone realizing until it’s too late. So while sometimes the direct approach does work, it could help you to adopt a more stealthy approach while you work towards overcoming the obstacles you’re currently facing. When nobody knows what you’re busy working towards you’re also much less likely to face unnecessary opposition. And by the time people realise what’s going on you’ll already be well on your way to destroying whatever has been holding you back from reaching your goals.
Another interesting strategy termites use is that they target solid structures. So while horses might be bigger and stronger, they are also quite careful and tend not to break solid structures unless they see no other recourse - and when they do break solid structures it often leaves them injured. On the other hand, termites go right at it and break down the very structure of a building.
Now let’s have a look at the obstacle you’re facing. It’s probably some belief or idea that you have to overcome, right? Most of our problems aren’t real things we have to chase away, it’s usually something we have to overcome within ourselves. So would it help just trying to chase it away? Or would a better strategy be to change the way you think about the problem - the way it’s put together in your head?
If you use termite mentality to dismantle your problem you’ll find it a lot easier to come up with solutions that are actually going to work. Instead of just charging at it blindly you’ll be gnawing away at the very core of the issue - so chances are the problem isn’t going to come back once you’re done with it.
Sometimes you need a bit more grit than just one quick charge. Termites never give up. They are relentless. On the other hand horses are quite skittish and forgiving. So if you have something really tough to get through at the moment it’s going to save you a lot of time and effort in the long run if you actually start chipping away at it bit by bit - instead of charging once or twice and then hoping the problem goes away.
