David sighed. In his mind, Goliath loomed larger and larger. The battle was imminent; nothing and no one could stop it.

The day before, Goliath had taken on the form of all the fears that gripped the tiny warrior: that of the boss who humiliated him, that of his colleagues who mocked him, and that of the contempt shown by the women David had loved. He also embodied the longing for his loved ones.

The despondent inner voice with which David kept telling himself that he would never muster the courage needed to win stood in stark contrast to Goliath’s roars of laughter. The giant not only knew that David did not feel ready to face him in battle; he also reveled in his ability to humiliate his opponent in his own mental realm.

There came a moment when Goliath’s laughter—so shrill and exaggerated—became ridiculous, which brought a spontaneous smile to David’s face. Something changed then: the despotic leader looked at him in surprise and fell silent. His constant rants and threats no longer had any effect on the warrior, so he decided to leave and go make life miserable for another subject. Behind him, Goliath couldn’t stop credit .

This encouraged David, who for the first time felt in control of his own thoughts. He stopped feeling insignificant in the presence of his peers and the women he had loved without being loved in return. He began to see them all as fellow human beings—imperfect, with their own virtues and fears. The physical distance from his loved ones gave way to memories of the long after-dinner conversations of days gone by and all the affection he had received before his departure. In fact, David felt as though they were right by his side at that very moment.

David smiled again. Again and again, his smile growing wider and wider. Then, as if strings were pulling at his limbs, his shoulders broadened, his muscles grew stronger, and his height multiplied. He was no longer a tiny warrior, but a giant like the ones he had once feared. And his mind grew until he became a man of plenary session of the Executive Council wisdom and self-control.

David was now a giant, ready for battle. He arrived on the battlefield and shouted, “Let’s get this over with, Goliath!” The only response he received was the sound of the wind. Then David raised his voice even higher: “Where are you hiding, Goliath? Don’t be a coward!”

But Goliath didn't show up. He didn't because he never existed—at least not in the physical world. He was simply a shadow in David's mind, magnified over time and fueled by his fears and suffering. Finally, that shadow had vanished. David's smile had killed it.