We have discussed the issue at hand on this blog before, but let me refresh things. Liz Gilbert in her book Big Magic talks about two mindsets: the martyr mindset, and the trickster mindset. Somebody with the martyr mindset wants things to go their way. They're often unwilling to compromise, and bend their principles. For them everything is a cause worth 'dying' for. They hold their principles exceedingly high. They are ready to martyr themselves for the smallest of causes. Compromise is a word that is not often used in their vocabulary. Contrast that with somebody with the trickster mindset. They have more-or-less clear vision of their goal. Or at least they know what they want. When they encounter challenges, they figure out what is the quickest way out of it. If they need to make compromises, they look at the big picture. If a compromise gets them to their destination, they make it. Much like a mythical trickster, they are wheeling and dealing, ready to gamble, ready to trick. All for the sake of their goal.
Gilbert is of course talking about psychological flexibility and inflexibility. If our values and principles, minor as they maybe, are unbending, we become martyrs to them. Racism is such a big deal, we say, I will not give people any benefit of doubt. Sexism is an epidemic, we say, and everyone who slights me the villain. We treat the world as an adversary, ready to fight it. On the other hand, if we are more flexible with our approach to the world, things become easier. Let's give people the benefit of doubt, we say, even if they don't deserve it. If it doesn't hurt us, and gets us closer to our goals, what's the matter? Corporate america may be sexist, we think, but if I can (as a woman, perhaps) make it work for me, that's another feather in the cap for a woman. We don't let big mountains get in our way, we squirrel away by the hedges. So greater souls, stronger minds mind be preparing for the last stand on the mountains they encounter, we've long past crossed them
This was something we discussed at PG's place the other day. The philosophy of expediency, the need to give people the benefit of doubt, and how we must make the system work for us. The point is not to be seen by history as 'the great fighter' because nobody cares, nobody will remember the pointless stand you took in a minor meeting. What they will see is what you accomplished, and how many you inspired.
Food for thought, yeah?
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