Strategic Non-Engagement

To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. – Sun Tzu

Sometimes doing nothing is the only thing to do and at others, it’s the best thing to do. Because remember, “nothing” is still “something” if it yields results.

Bravery, training and heart aside, a soldier’s greatest personal asset is his ability to engage – to engage an arduous order or a relentless enemy. But just as important is knowing when not to engage.

Whether in the chaos of combat or the events of everyday life, the ability of engagement and the art of strategic non-engagement applies.

Our existence is a series of choices and decisions, of our own that affect us directly and of others that influence us indirectly. That effectively makes us living and breathing principals of causation.

Meaning we are just a collection of engagements that shape and build what we are and become. That almost everything we do is an engaged response to another engagement. Cause and effect.

This is why sometimes, “engagement” is an ability and “non-engagement” is an art form.

When something (anything) happens, we are naturally expected to respond by way of engaging. It’s perfectly logical and almost always the right move. But that’s the thing, sometimes inaction is the best “action”.

Retreat is not always cowardice in the way inaction is not necessarily negligence, because at certain moments, non-engagement is the best strategy.

The trick is in knowing when.

The greatest victory is that which requires no battle. – Sun Tzu