Justifying Inaction

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Last week in class we did a contemplative practice in which we adopted three different perspectives: that things in the world are going to get worse, that things are going to get better, and that things are the way they are. When we did that exercise I felt remarkably peaceful after I accepted the perspective that things are the way they are. Accepting this statement as true brought a new sense of calmness to the many conflicts and debates that go on in my mind with regards to climate change and its associated challenges. I found relief from the hopelessness that I often feel when thinking about the Anthropocene.

This sense of relief intrigued me because it raised the question in my mind: If taking a passive position has such a dramatic effect on my mental health, is inaction justified?

First, I think it is necessary to examine what I define “action” as. Is action changing my personal consumptive habits? Or is action driving myself to be a leader in pushing for systematic change? I’m inclined to believe that there is a spectrum of action. If this is the case, I wonder if anything less than being a leader would result in any significant impact. If I were not to be a leader, then I would be following the leadership of somebody else. An example of this would be taking part in an organized protest or volunteering for a campaign. If I were to be a follower in this capacity, I would almost certainly be one of many, and as such, my contribution would probably be inconsequential. I believe systems theory suggests that as a follower, I would be replaceable. So, if the two paths forward are to be a leader or to be a follower, and I don’t want to be a leader, it seems to me that inaction for the preservation of my mental health could be justified.

While this line of thought seems to make sense to me, I’m still left with a gut feeling that I’m wrong. This roundabout justification for inaction feels toxic. Am I just being lazy? Are the challenges presented to us so significant I have an obligation to be a leader?

Please let me know what you think.

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