---
id: ff24_attack_problems_or_they_attack
title: FLYINGFREE - Attack Problems Or They Attack
category: Biblical Life Counsel
predicted_narrative_arc: untimely-lessons-to-active-endurance
sentiment: Urgent
emotions:
- Urgent
- Steady
- Counsel
keypoints:
- Untimely experiences shaped how Dean approaches problems today
- You either attack problems in life or they attack you
- There are times when you must act
- Be ready to endure hardship no matter how unpleasant
- In simplified terms, “Suck it up!” — confidence can turn to mush in crisis
summary: >
  Dean traces his present problem-approach to early untimely losses: attack
  problems or they attack you, act when required, endure hardship — “Suck it
  up!” — because perfect-seeming calm can turn confidence to mush overnight.
tags:
- flying-free
- chapter-24
- action
- hardship
- endurance
- crisis
- dean-rush
- book-excerpt
- biblical-counsel
- problems
sycophancy: 0
truth_score: 9
entropy: 2
sample: false
consent: owner_approved
agent: flyingfree
created: '2010-01-01'
updated: '2026-09-09T00:00:00Z'
vault_stage: 07_CODEX
headwaters: FLYINGFREE
prefix: FLYINGFREE
enrich_status: ok
enrich_blockers: []
enrich_method: manual
pipeline_filename: FLYINGFREE_24_attack-problems-or-they-attack.md
source_kind: book_excerpt
proposed_topic: FlyingFree
lane: FlyingFree
voice: desk
active_voice: desk
voices:
- desk
routing_source: carbon
corpus_topic: FlyingFree
content_status: active
date: '2010-01-01'
share_url: https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md
source_url: https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md
site_category: Flying Free
book_title: Flying Free
book_chapter: 24
book_chapter_title: New Objectives – Change Your Landing Zone
source_file: flyingfree/flying-free-24-new-objectives.md
description: >
  Chapter 24 — attack problems or they attack you; endure hardship; suck it up;
  crisis can turn confidence to mush.
---

# Attack Problems Or They Attack

**Author:** Dean Rush  
**Book:** *Flying Free* · **Chapter 24:** New Objectives – Change Your Landing Zone  
**Full book:** [deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md](https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md)

## Context for the Reader

This chapter reinforces that the final phase of recovery requires a deliberate change of landing zone. Early untimely experiences taught Dean a hard rule: passivity invites the problem to own you. He admits the line can sound egotistical, then still insists there are times you must act and endure — even when confidence turns to mush. This lesson holds that action-and-endurance beat.

> Voice note: Everything under **Dean's excerpt** is Dean's original prose (lightly cleaned only). Sections marked **Biblical foundations**, **Scholar sidebar**, **Takeaways**, and **First-time learner** are enrichment for Asker / first readers — not Dean speaking.

---

## Biblical foundations (preface)

Dean’s “attack or be attacked” is not swagger; it is readiness to act and endure. Scripture joins courage, steadfastness under trial, and sober refusal of false security.

| Dean's claim | Scriptural undercarriage |
| --- | --- |
| Attack problems or they attack you; times you must act | Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13); the hand of the diligent makes rich (Proverbs 10:4) |
| Ready to endure hardship, however unpleasant | Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3); count it all joy… when you meet trials (James 1:2–4) |
| Confidence can quickly turn to mush in crisis | Let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12); pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18) |

---

## Dean's excerpt

### Attack or be attacked

All of those untimely experiences had a significant effect on my approach to problems today. I learned that you either attack problems in life or they attack you. I am aware that the statement may strike you as an egotistical approach, but think about it: there are times when you must act. We must be ready to endure hardship if it comes, no matter how unpleasant. In simplified terms, “Suck it up!”

Sometimes we find ourselves relaxing and thinking everything in life is perfect. When crisis strikes, confidence can very quickly turn to mush. The tests occur at varying ages and in different situations, but those unexpected events become significant and unforgettable experiences that affect our lives.

> **Scholar sidebar — Act, endure, don’t coast**  
> 1 Corinthians 16:13 and Proverbs 10:4 press firm action. 2 Timothy 2:3 and James 1:2–4 shape hardship into endurance training. 1 Corinthians 10:12 and Proverbs 16:18 warn soft confidence. Dean’s blunt “Suck it up!” is soldier language under a pastoral book — act, don’t pose.

---

## Takeaways

1. **Formed by loss.** Untimely experiences still shape how he meets problems.
2. **Binary pressure.** Attack the problem or it attacks you.
3. **Must-act moments.** Some seasons forbid endless delay.
4. **Endure unpleasant.** Hardship readiness is part of landing, not optional polish.
5. **Mush warning.** “Perfect” calm can collapse confidence overnight when tests hit.

---

## First-time learner

### What is Dean saying in one sentence?
Early losses taught him that you either attack problems or they attack you — so act when you must, endure hardship, and never trust perfect-seeming calm as permanent confidence.

### Is “Suck it up!” unspiritual?
Dean offers it as simplified endurance language after admitting it may sound egotistical; Scripture’s soldier and steadfastness texts sit beside it, not against honest grief.

### Key verses to read with this lesson
- **1 Corinthians 16:13** — Stand firm; be strong.
- **2 Timothy 2:3** — Share in suffering as a good soldier.
- **James 1:2–4** — Trials and perseverance.
- **1 Corinthians 10:12** — Take heed lest you fall.
- **Proverbs 16:18** — Pride before destruction.

### A simple practice
Name one problem you have been circling. Write the next concrete action (one step only) and the hardship you are willing to endure this week without quitting that step.

### How this feeds Ask Dean
Seed material for: *What does Dean mean by attack problems? When must I act? How do I endure without denying grief?*