How to Stay on Course in a Time of Irrational Thought

Why we need a steady and responsible hand on the wheel.

Life used to be fun, interesting, enjoyable — if not a bit predictable.

Yes, there were still challenges. But a positive mindset and the stability of our environment provided meaning, purpose, and hope. Even with the inevitable ups-and-downs, we usually had the intellectual and emotional resources to handle the unexpected hurdles that crossed our path. In short, we had a fully functioning internal support system to bring ourselves back to center.

But lately, I’ve noticed a general sense of foreboding.

More than simple apprehension, the feeling has taken the form of an ominous and threatening omen. And the underlying message is simple:

We’ve taken a wrong turn.

More than disturbing — it’s becoming a trend.

But rather than allow a negative cloud of irrational thought to form in my mind, I’m evaluating my concerns with an open mind — taking into account the recognizable symptoms reflected in our current reality. I hope you’ll stay with me long enough to consider my perspective.

The negativity I’m describing is a by-product of symptomatic change

Motivated by greed, ego, and the insatiable need for power and control, the signs are clear. Call them red flags, caution indicators, or warning beacons, we don’t have to look very far to find them.

Plato described the political and economic drivers — and their influence on the individual — as a great ship of state. The metaphor was later popularized by Buckminster Fuller, who cautioned all of us to keep a steady and responsible hand on the wheel — if we’re to remain on course.

Lately, I’m getting the feeling our ship’s compass has been broken for quite a while.

Granted, you may or may not agree with me. But I’m certain there are more than a few people who are noticing similar situations, and would like to make major course corrections before our great ship ends up on the rocks.

Here are a few of the more obvious examples:

• It used to be rational to believe medical professionals had our best interests at heart, and would only prescribe those medications and protocols that would not only make us well, but restore our health to allow us to thrive on our own — without them.
• It used to be rational to trust in the company you worked for — to believe its decisions were made with their employee’s economic security as a major priority. In exchange, workers delivered their time and loyalty, knowing it was a reciprocal arrangement that benefited both.
• It used to be rational to expect our educational system to deliver useful and constructive knowledge to our young people, nurturing students with support systems and methods relevant to the world they live in. But expecting educators to instill a respect for the past, an awareness of the present, and inspiration for the future is on the verge of becoming a pipe dream. Teachers are tired of working for compensation that’s barely a living wage. They’re tired of being forced to work in environments that are dangerous or unsafe — usually prompted by political agenda — and it’s causing many of them to leave the profession. What’s the prognosis without them? The next generation of adults is far less likely to become responsible, courteous, and thoughtful human beings.
• It used to be rational to believe those chosen to lead would honor our laws, protect our rights, and defend this Country’s citizens with equal measure and intent. The privilege of leadership was taken seriously — with integrity, courage, and a vision for a better, promising future. How did we allow that to change?

There are a lot of things that used to be rational in our world

And we depended on those benchmarks to provide us with opportunity — and the resources for living a positive, fulfilling life. They gave us hope, and a sense of long-term security that, in the end, we would be okay.

But as Fuller warned, a short lapse in responsibility while tending the wheel can send us off in unwanted and unrewarding directions.

It’s time to reset our compass

And restore the helm to competent leadership — to repair the damage done by those with less than honorable intentions. It’s time to put our great ship of state back on course.

© 2020 Jill Reid. All Rights Reserved.

For tips on working through the bumps and hurdles of life, sign up for the Real Life Newsletter — right here …

Jill Reid is the author of Real Life, Discover Your Personal Truth, Life in Small Doses, and Please God, Make Me A Writer. Her books, videos, and newsletter explore life, relationships, health, and personal success strategies for working through the challenges of everyday life.