Rob Meesen — © Topchange
A brave frog, full of longing, in the mire of mediocrity told his fellow frogs that he had heard a story about a beautiful, vast sea beyond the horizon. He received feedback that this was a very dangerous idea. Those who had responded to this call of longing in the past had never returned to the pleasant comfort of the mud hole. The brave frog left anyway.
Big business
As every progress optimist knows, the herd only moves on when the grass has been eaten bare. Our unparalleled brain is an intelligent system. It is preferably functionally lazy and only moves through fear or desire. The right, designed stimulus in the amygdala or nucleus accumbens activates our gray matter in a timely manner in the desired direction. Politicians, administrators, interest groups, activists, and entrepreneurs; they all use the primal configuration of our operating system. Fear is big business in our risk-averse society. Easier to apply for one’s own interests than collective desire. Fear is deeply programmed into our survival instincts. Desire begins at the limits of our comfort zone and paradoxically triggers fear of losing one’s current position. And yet, given the choice, we should always go for the desire. Just like the sturdy frog. There are plenty of examples.
Hopeful
Last week I was a moderator during a Baandomein management meeting with trend analyst Christine Boland as a speaker. The participants hung on her every word as she presented a hopeful story about the many circular solutions available to regenerate humanity. She made it clear that if you understand the spirit of the times, you see what drives people. And if you know what people want, you see opportunities.
Word artist
The Zuyderland hospital tries to tell a credible story about an inexplicable decision with meaningless percentages. Last Friday evening I was able to attend a personal speech by word artist Raymond Clement. In just a few minutes full of wisdom, passion and desire, he made it clear why the three slick advertising pages of Zuyderland that same day in De Limburger did not match the yearning of our common desire.
Philosopher
April is philosophy month for anyone looking for wisdom in unwise times. Philosopher Govert Derix published his hyperphilosophy. “There is a moment when we have to put our cards on the table and that moment is now. We can see how the flags hang. We can knowingly get lost in the mazes of thousands of isms and ideologies with our eyes open or in a daze or asleep. The wanderings take on clownish forms. The temptation of long stories is great. Time is short,” said the writer.
Be a brave frog. Follow your desire and keep it short!
