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Never Let The World Pass You By, and other grand delusions
There are some grand myths that can hold a disproportionate influence over the way many people deal with the world. I’ll cover these in a quick catch-all and then give you an alternative to consider that might be more useful for you.
- Don’t Let The World Pass You By
2. You’re Either Moving Forward or You’re Being Passed
3. If You Stand Still You’ll Fall Behind
These lovely little catch-all phrases though arguably laced with positive intent, are, to be perfectly frank, bullshit. They are I suppose meant to suggest that you should always be working to get somewhere, be someone, achieve something. They are at the basis of a work ethic mantra.
For many of us, that inner voice, that critical sound of dissatisfaction with our lot in life, will by and large be based on the SOCIALLY derived mantra of ‘progress’ as a sign of worthiness.
And in that mindset we beat ourselves up that life isn’t ideal / perfect / as good as them / at the level expected etc
Here’s why those phrases are BS
The VAST majority of people have NO IDEA where they are headed. They have NO IDEA why they are doing the things they are doing. They have NO IDEA what their actions will lead to.
The VAST majority mistake activity for productivity.
Remember a rocking horse can be very active but it will never get anywhere.
The Implications:
Standing still, taking pause, assessing or reassessing what you want from your life may look very inactive to others or even feel wasteful to yourself. And trust me when I say, ‘taking stock’ is one of the RAREST and yet most powerful things you can do for your life.
Does that mean you can, like the current tiktok trend ‘start manifesting’ things into your life and expect things to change (also known as the updated version of the wildly popular ‘The Secret’ of almost 20 years ago)?
No.
Taking stock and thinking about what you want to achieve is important. Understand that taking a breath, a pause is a vital part of deciding what you do want, and whether you are on track toward it. It’s about assumptions and expectations.
And THEN you get active — then you put everything you can into reaching your goal. But know that most of the people in this world have NEVER consciously decided on a specific outcome and for that reason. most of their actions, effort, energy will be wasted. Without a well articulated and specific desired outcome, you will likely be on the treadmill with them.
As the late E James Rohn stated ‘affirmation without action is delusion’.
Pause, take stock, decide what you want, work out how to get there. Don’t be a rocking horse.
Marcus Barber is a strategic futurist specialising in employee engagement, strategic planning, and the future of work and the author of Getting Your Future Right
