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“LAWS” of HUMAN NATURE by R. Green (cont)
11. Law of Grandiosity
12. of Gender Rigidity
13. Law of AIMLESSNESS
The inherent human tendency is to roam around without purpose, so without a clear direction, people drift. They become distracted by petty dramas & temporary pleasures. In the back of our minds we can sense an overall lack of forward movement, being pulled this way & that way by our moods & the opinions of others
RESPONSE : People become most successful when they have a sense of purpose. A clearly-defined life path gives us energy, even in moments of chaos or deep despair. We have to rely on making conscious decisions, open to the internal, primal traits that make us unique. A high sense of purpose aligns with who we are, so we can achieve more.
14. of CONFORMITY
We have a social side to our character, but groups strip away individuality. We stop thinking critically & default to the collective emotion, unconsciously imitating what others are saying & doing. Intelligent individuals can suddenly support irrational ideas in meetings just to maintain harmony.
RESPONSE :
Resist the groups’ downward pull. We like to believe we’re independent & progressive, but actually can’t help conforming to our society. Recognize the dynamics / patterns found in whatever group you’re in. Notice specifically how you’re influenced, & keep your psychological boundaries
15. of FICKLENESS
People are always ambivalent about those in power. They want to believe our emotions are clean & simple, but we’re actually ambivalent toward most things, including our leaders. When they make a mistake fickleness shows up as sudden insubordination or gossip, We want to be protected & enjoy prosperity – without making sacrifices, to be led but also to feel free, to both worship the king & want to kill him.
RESPONSE : The fundamental role of a leader is to provide a far reaching vision to unite the group. Authority is the delicate art of wielding power while making people feel like you’re working for them. Make them want to follow you. To embody all the traits you would want in a leader – you must work hard, leading from the front, to be calm, consistent, courageous, fair, tough & wise.
16. of AGGRESSION
On the surface, people seem so polite & civilized, but under the mask, they’re inevitably dealing with frustrations, leading to anger. Many learn to hide it behind a polite smile or bureaucratic red tape. They have a need to influence people & gain power over circumstances. If their goals are blocked, they will become manipulative or outright aggressive.
RESPONSE : See the hostility behind the friendly façade, & do not ignore passive-aggression. Call it out calmly or neutralize it by setting rigid, unbreakable boundaries. Meet active aggression with calculated, unyielding force. Learn to recognize & manage those with chronically direct or indirect anger. Be aware of your own tendencies, & harness the positive aspects of assertive energy.
17. of GENERATIONAL MYOPIA
People are born into a generation that defines who they are (more than they realize), wanting to separate itself from the previous one & set a new tone for the world. Each one forms certain tastes & values, creating distinct cultural values & blind spots. . Then – as they get older, their values & ideas tend to become closed off from other points of view, limiting their thinking.
RESPONSE : Understand & honor how much the current time period affects you. Transitions seem to be universal across time – seen over decades – indicating that they’re bigger than any one generation. Realize how history moves in cycles across generations, & identify how / where you fit in to the wider patterns.
18. of DEATH DENIAL
Most people are terrified of death, & spend their lives avoiding even the thought of it. To compensate, they continually look for ways to separate themselves from others to feel special, & therefore exempt. This leads to wasted time & trivial anxieties.
RESPONSE : Understanding mortality is a powerful tool at your disposal seldom exploited to the max. The shortness of life ought to compel us to fight harder & stop procrastinating. Instead of avoiding such thoughts, leverage the paradoxical death effect, to make life more productive & meaningful.
Training ourselves to confront & accept this reality makes it easier to manage inevitable setbacks & obstacles, separations & crises in life providing a sense of proportion . (Modified Reprint)
NEXT : 4 GAMES people play
