Day 98: On Society (Not) Holding
You Back
It’s not society that holds us back, it’s ourselves. We just blame society because not only is it easier but it’s a nearly impossible weight to move. This way, we don’t actually have to change.
It’s easy to use society as a crutch.
“I can’t lose weight because there are billboards of fast food restaurants everywhere, and besides, I just got a free coupon for a burger.”
“I can’t become more productive because my colleagues laugh at me for making an effort, and besides, my boss won’t appreciate it anyway.”
“I can’t stay faithful to my significant other because dating apps make it so easy to meet sexy people.”
Is it the billboard, your colleagues, or dating apps that control your life? If so, is that really how you’d like to live — at the whim of advertisers, other people, or new technologies?
Every time you claim that it’s the surroundings that hold you back, ask yourself if it’s really your environment or perhaps it’s just an easy excuse for you to not act. And if you still think it’s your surroundings — because that might
be the case — then change them.
Nobody forces you to hang out with the same people, install a dating app, or drive by your favorite fast food joints. If your long-
term goals are important to you, you can always consider moving to a place that will be more conducive to your personal growth.