When progress doesn’t eradicate problems but just replaces them with new ones, it’s the individual’s coping strategy that will determine the faith of our world.

(This is the first in the series of articles inspired by Jordan Peterson’s book 12 Rules for Life. In total 12 articles will be created (one for each rule). The articles do not summarize the book’s contents — each one merely originates from a particular idea highlighted in one of the chapters. Enjoy!)

While we complain how shitty our lives and the world are, the facts often point to the opposite direction — the times seem better than ever.

Only 80 years ago, about 75% of people lived in extreme poverty. We brought it down to 10%. We’ve effectively eliminated Polio and decreased child mortality down to 4%. We also spread basic education to 86% of the population, while the crime and homicide rates are at their historic lows.

But everything ain’t that pretty, huh?

Just as old problems are being eliminated, new ones arise. Sometimes a couple of already solved ones are resurrected and forced back into our lives. Today’s world may be better than ever, but it’s still far from perfect. Immigration, inequality, climate change, opioids, the elimination of jobs, the rise of autocratic regimes and ramifications of cultural trends such as identity politics, are looming on the horizon with ever-increasing urgency. It seems, as we progress, we create progressively more complex problems, whose possible solutions divide people instead of bringing them together — the most effective way of solving problems.

In the wake of the above, I can’t help, but ask, “How can I possibly help changing this world for the better?” And I’m sure you’ve wondered this yourself.

But before coming up with a proper answer, we get KO-ed out of our “dreaming of better days” by our own personal problems that need to be solved. Before you can dedicate yourself to saving the whole world, you must first survive on your own, overcoming your own struggles. Taking care of the world may sound noble, still, you have to get the best possible education, pay your bills and find your soul-mate.

Personal problems put pressure on us, especially when the solutions seem impossible after encountering failure one too many times. Like this isn’t enough, we get bombarded constantly — by the media, elders, teachers, etc. — to get serious and start changing the world, as its faith rests on our shoulders. And although sometimes they sound annoying, they are right.

You carry the weight of your own life and of the whole world on your back, whether you want it or not. It’s the trade-off of being a part of this world. It’s the part that is non-negotiable. And the latter entails the debate has to move from dwelling on the non-negotiable to finding ways to make the best out of it.

What will you do about this imperfect world?

Fortunately, we are all given a choice, however, it’s the most critical of them all.

THE EASY ROAD

The first option is the natural tendency we all experience once we begin to fully understand the complexity of the world’s problems — to give up hope of a solution.

Some sink into the dark nihilistic state of mind of helplessness. When one does not see the light at the end of the tunnel, the tunnel becomes one’s world. Hopelessness breeds misery and life becomes nothing but keeping the head down, going through motions bringing you to the almost comforting finish line — a tombstone.

Despite this reactionary tendency when encountering insurmountable problems, only a few utterly succumb to it. Most of us choose a different, yet equally risky route. We don’t just give up on making the world a better place. We start to operate from a purely selfish “what’s-in-it-for-me” worldview.

We strive for the materialistic ideal: a hot wife, too big of a house, too fancy of a car, and as many moneys as possible. We become entangled by our own well-being, engrossed in our own self-importance. Yet, a common underlying feeling lurks just beneath our consciousness — guilt.

Do we listen to the guilt? Change for the better?

Oh no. That’s hard. We take the easy route. We tap into the limitless realm of on-demand distraction. We immerse ourselves in mindless TV shows, social media, celebrity gossip, … And these are just the obvious ones. Distraction comes in more forms that can be put into this post. Our I’m-not-doing-it-for-the-money rationalizations, our unsatisfiable quench for approval and recognition, sometimes even having children, can all be a form of distraction — pointing the mind away of the fact that deep down we still feel like a less of a human we could be.

Do we get out of it then? Hell no. We dive further into distractions, numbing the guilt, suppressing it deeper with a naïve notion that we can silence it. You can, but not forever. Eventually, it will pour through the cracks in unexpected ways, manifesting itself as a deep underlying dissatisfaction with your life, no matter how much money, recognition or sex you are getting.

Distractions pave the easy path. Still, whatever effort you might save, you will pay it back double in misery — a bargain one might be better off skipping. What’s the other option then?

THE (BUMPY) NOBLE ROAD

Thinking a quick-fix solution that can wipe out all of the world’s problems is sitting somewhere waiting to be discovered is both cute and stupid. The world is too complex, the scope of problems too big. As messed up as it may be, giving up on it will not make it better. If at any point in history all people gave up on it, I wouldn’t be writing this and you, dear reader, must certainly wouldn’t walk this planet. It’s the people who remain hopeful and optimistic in their minds, and bold and virtuous in their deeds, that propel the world into better times. Let us join these people.

I most certainly cannot change this world overnight or by myself, but I at least can refuse to actively or passively make it worse. I can strive in my thoughts and action to make it better. I don’t need to impact the whole world, I don’t have that power. However, I have the power to impact my own little world. I can tell the truth. I can be honest and vulnerable in my relationships. I can help those less fortunate than me. I can strive to be the best at what I do and bring something of value into this world — something that makes people’s lives better. I can do my part.

It may feel minor, insignificant, even meaningless. If that’s the case, think about it one more time… You are doing your part. As long as you do that, you are embodying the very reason for your existence. Give yourself some credit.

Be proud, goddamit!

Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Take life head-on — no matter how messy it is. It’s a battle that requires courage. You’re fighting it — do so proudly!

“Stand up straight with your shoulders back” is the first rule in Jordan Peterson’s book 12 Rules for Life that inspired this blog series, and it is as much metaphorical as it is literal.

Standing up straight implies and invokes standing up metaphysically, in a way of declaring, “The world can be a nasty place. Life can be messed up. But I refuse to give in and make it worse. I choose to own the responsibility given to me by birth, of doing my part to make the world a better place.” It’s you rebelling against the decay of human virtue and subsequent doom of the world.

You don’t have to be evil to perpetuate it. He, who ignores and tolerates evil, gives it opportunity and room to grow. By doing your part in making the world around you better, you ultimately resist against its corruption in the highest sense possible.

And as powerful as the metaphysical meaning of upright posture is, there are also tangible effects emanating from your physiology — the kind that will help back your metaphysical declaration of the highest good. In their study, researchers Riskind and Gotay found that upright posture makes us more persistent when dealing with difficult problems and slouching makes us give up quicker. The same study also noted that we tend to perceive stress as more intense (in a bad way) while in a slouched position in comparison to the upright posture.

Both above effects are beneficial for the quality of our lives, yet there is one other important thing that upright posture helps us with. In 2009, a study successfully confirmed that our posture has a direct effect on how confident we are in our thoughts. Having positive thoughts and intention might not be enough, as people with bad posture tend to believe themselves less. On the other hand, upright posture makes us believe our thoughts more.

While doing our part of making this world better is a worthwhile quest, worth of standing up straight, it will also help us believe in our cause more. It’s a positive feedback loop.

WHEN THE SPOTLIGHT COMES ON

You won’t change the world. And that is okay. It’s not about that. Standing up straight and proudly contributing to this world is not about changing the world, it’s about finding meaning in your life. Maybe you were born with one. I believe we are here for no grandiose reason but to help our breed avoid extinction. Everything else in your life is a vacuum meant to be filled. You can saturate it with distraction or you can find meaning in trying to make this world better by engaging in critical thinking and virtuous deeds.

You are not perfect. Neither am I. We will fuck up. But it doesn’t matter as long as we get back up and try to do the right thing in the next situation. It’s about becoming a better human being and it’s hard to imagine that the journey doesn’t include making the world around us better somehow.

Entertain the following thought experiment: Maybe the whole world is a big tragi-comedic play. By being here you are a part of the cast and when the spotlight shines on you (a. k. a. your birth) you have to take the stage and play your part. Probably you can’t change how the play ends, but maybe you can make it a bit better.

Will you leave your heart on the stage?