Driving Forces

“Anything not underway tends never to get there

unless or until imposed upon

by a force of sufficient magnitude to get it moving.”

Law of Inertia

“The human being is one of the most inertially refractory bodies in the universe;

When imposed upon by a force of sufficient magnitude to get it moving,

the human being reacts with more than equal force

in the opposite direction.”

Mac McMaster

How, then, are we to “Become all that we can BE” if we’re so strikingly and “possessively” engaged in “UNBECOMING”?

Some “transformative” process needs to take place – at some point – to make “Becoming” of any positive consequence possible.

An assessment of what DRIVES us to do what we do – both good AND bad – is instructive. 

Early in life, parents do all the driving.  Then teachers and coaches become prominent “Drivers”.  And then it gets both interesting and scary, with ancillary “Drivers” including:

                       

Hormones                                                            Drugs

Career                                                                  Dunkin’ Donuts

Mass Media                                                         Social Media

“Significant Other”                                            Religious Beliefs

Fetishes / Fixations                                            Ego

Starbucks / Caffeine                                           Fear / Insecurity

Hobby                                                                   DREAMS/GOALS

Impulses / Distractions / Diversions                Psychoses / Phobias

Myths                                                                   Money / Greed

Love / Affection / Affirmation                            Attainment of New Knowledge

Creative Engagement / Problem Solving         Soap Operas and Sensationalism

Driving forces may change with time and circumstance.  But NOT to be “driven” by some positive internal force toward an improved position or a better or more certain future is a disparaging place to find oneself. 

Defining our personal driving force(s) can be important.  Knowing what they are provides the best means of understanding ourselves, shaping our dreams, editing our behavior, and adjusting our expectations.  

One of my personal driving forces has always been fear of deprivation.  I’ve experienced modest levels of deprivation and don’t find it at all “enlifening”.  As a result, I hustle my butt to remain gainfully engaged, I don’t waste money on tobacco, alcohol, or candy bars, and I’m not an “early adopter” of new technology; I wait until the technology becomes standardized, until they work out the “bugs”, until prices bottom out … and, often, until the older technology doesn’t work anymore!

It also makes me a “hoarder”.  I acquire and squirrel away every potentially useful element, from cardboard boxes to screws and washers out of discarded appliances.  [But you ought to see the amazing number of holdings I’ve “repurposed” to a remarkable advantage since I retired!]  Of course, being aware of all this, I can restrict my holdings to what’s “fathomable”, and I’m getting better at assessing what’s “potentially useful”.

A lot of us are driven by an innate urge to “Beat the System”.   We want something for nothing and will cut any corners possible to get it.  Then we rationalize either the getting or not getting and look for more corners to cut.  This game becomes an exercise in diminishing returns: We eventually run out of corners and can get cut out of the very rewards we’re seeking.  One of my friends used to drive miles out of his way to get the best bargains on everything – even trivial stuff – and then justify it … or indemnify himself … by buying more than he needed! 

What’s most effective in moving you ahead, or are any of your “Driving Forces” holding you back? 

NOTE: Paralyzing insecurities, grief, guilt and depression can take us off-line, out-of-touch and into dark and miserable places.  Apathy is equally disengaging, dis-enlifening and “unbecoming”.  The twisted power of misplaced fear is chronicled in The Culture of Fear by Barry Glassner  http://www.delanceyplace.com/view-archives.php?p=2976

On the other hand, positively directed OUTRAGE is an extremely effective – though seriously double-edged – driving force.  Merely “venting” doesn’t help, and outrage simply for its own sake is abominable!  (Anyone up for joining the next political rally!?!)  But when the shower or garage gets so uninhabitable as to be a safety and/or health hazard, a justifiable amount of OUTRAGE can get the job done much more quickly and effectively than without it. 

In fact, if you’re not outraged against something, you should probably check your pulse! 

It makes one wonder:  What amazing advancements of civilization could be attained with sufficient outrage against poverty, unequal opportunity and mediocrity in education?  

[At this particular moment, I’m getting outraged that I can’t find stuff on my desk and my next blog post is overdue and I haven’t done due diligence in exercise and I haven’t done my taxes and am woefully behind in learning about 30 new songs for the five singing groups I’m in!  I may have to forego the SEC championship playoffs.]  

Let’s take a close look at our Driving Forces and make sure we’re not getting driven into oblivion – or worse.  Break out of the conscriptive tyranny of habits, impulsiveness, immediate gratification, comfort zone fog, “impressionability”, cult/tribal customs/permissiveness, and rationalizations, and conscript a mobilizing apportionment of righteously indignant OUTRAGE toward making the world better and our own navigational powers stronger.   Become a formidable “Owner-Driver” and Drive ON!  Quartermaster