Imagine someone informed you on Sunday night that you will be put in a torture room on Monday morning. What would your reaction be like? Would you be concerned? Probably, yes. This is a kind of situation that happened to Galen Litchfield in 1942 when he found out that a Japanese admiral had revealed the assets he had hidden from the Japanese while stranded in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. He was to be executed on Monday in the infamous Japanese secret police torture chamber. On Sunday, Litchfield learned the news and considered his options.

What are the possible solutions to such a situation? According to Columbia College Dean Herbert E. Hawkes, confusion is the main source of concern. He claims that when individuals are frightened, they rarely care to consider the details of their predicament. However, we can settle all issues by using a straightforward three-step approach. It is precisely what Litchfield used for his remedy.

So, find out the details of your concern first. Using a typewriter, Litchfield expressed his concern about being tortured to death the following morning. Next, examine those facts. Litchfield, for example, wrote, “What can I do about it?” following a list of his alternatives, including running away, defending himself, or pretending as if nothing had happened. Thirdly, decide what to do and stick to it. Litchfield concluded that his only choice was to carry on with business as usual. The Japanese admiral appeared to have cooled down since he just frowned at Litchfield. This is a good example that shows how thoroughly considering your concerns can occasionally save your life.