Published 31st July 2023
Defining “enemies in life”
General concept of “enemies” can typically be understood as negative forces, challenges or obstacles that individuals may encounter in their daily lives and would vary from person to person. It is important to note that these life enemies are not external entities or individuals but rather challenges that one might face on their life journey.
Common "enemies" that people might often face can range from simple factors like procrastination and fear to more complication situations like financial instability and unresolved traumas.
So, what are often said to be the 3 biggest “enemies in life”?
No.1 biggest enemy, more often than not, is Comfort Zone
In life, comfort zone is an area where you feel safe, familiar, and at ease with the activities you encounter. It is a psychological mindset where anxiety, pressure and stress are minimal because you are operating in and within known boundaries. This is where people become comfortable in what they are doing, and they don’t like to change.
In our society today, there is tremendous resistance to change, resistance in changing what we do in our everyday life, and often finding reasons not to embrace change.
Prolonging stays within one’s comfort zone could lead to other associated “enemies” :-
- Low Self-Confidence : Lack of facing challenges, lowers self-esteem in realizing capabilities.
- Missed Opportunities : Stepping outside from comfort zone opens doors to new experiences and skills, whilst staying within confines, one may miss out on valuable opportunities to advance in personal intellectual growth.
- Complacency : Settling too long in comfort zone means settling for mediocrity.
- Lack of Resilience : Adapting and handling changes are essential life skill-sets. Staying within your comfort zone might prevent you from developing emotional resilience.
- Perpetual Fear : Stepping out for change, at times, can be scary, avoiding it entirely may result in living in constant fear, hindering personal expansion and development.
Essentially, whilst recognizing that comfort zone is a place of safety; progression and growth often only happen when you step beyond your boundaries and face new challenges and opportunities. So, gradually expand your comfort zone to embrace changes and experiences, you can lead a more enriched life.
The 2nd thing is what people often called Learned Helplessness
In layman terms, this is where people feel, I can’t do it, we can’t do it. We cannot make the change because of the world, because of the economy, because of the way things work, because of our up-bringing. Hence, one would always be thinking of reasons why change cannot happen.
Learned helplessness is a concept or state in which an individual, after repeatedly experiencing uncontrollable situations, comes to believe that he or she has no control over the position or circumstances, even when there is opportunity for control.
Linking to real-life situations, for instance, someone who has faced continuous failures and setbacks may develop learned helplessness, believing that their efforts are often futile, even when success becomes achievable. This pessimism mindset can have profound effects on an individual's behaviour, motivation, and overall well-being. It manifests in different aspects of life, such as work, relationships, and mental health. People who have experienced learned helplessness may become avoidant and develop feelings of hopelessness.
So, it is important to recognize that this is not an inherent human-being attribute, but rather a result of past experiences and mental interpretations, which is addressable by attempting to challenge the negative thought processes and encouraging more adaptive approaches to life’s changes.
Thirdly, this enemy is what people called the Path of Least Resistance
This phrase "path of least resistance" relates to the natural human tendency of seeking out for or following the easiest and most convenient routes to achieving their objectives, outcomes and results, or encountering obstacles.
Human behaviour commonly drives decision-making of people towards choosing the path of least resistance when faced with various challenges or tasks. This means opting for the most comfortable option, rather than putting in greater effort for potentially greater accomplishments.
The phrase is also often used metaphorically to describe situations where organizations choose the most straightforward approach to achieve goals and successes, even if the approach might not be the most optimal for the organizations in the long run.
In summary, the "path of least resistance" is a concept that highlights the tendency of systems, both physical and humans, to look for an easy path. However, it is always important to continue reminding ourselves that often nothing worthwhile can be achieved easily in life.
Overcoming these 3 “enemies” for success…
Overcoming these “enemies in life” can prove to be more challenging than ever thought of.
However, maintaining some of the following mindsets, support and planning, can help in navigating these situations :-
- Staying Calm : When facing up with difficult times and situations, it's essential to remain composed, failing which emotions tend to cloud one’s judgment, leading to impulsive reactions. Take the time to process the situations, and rethink rationally of next steps.
- Self-Improvement : Investing in personal growth is an enabler to becoming better equipped to handle challenges and changes, and to adapt. Self-improvement boosts self-confidence, making it harder for these “enemies” to undermine personal self.
- Be Resilient : Overcoming these “enemies” will often be a very long and “demanding” process. Being patient and staying strong during this journey naturally builds resiliency to face setbacks and focus on learning from them to move forward.
- Building a Support Network : Embracing and surround yourself within supportive environment and network of family, friends and colleagues, provide abundance of emotional comfort and valuable support system.
Remember,
- Overcoming enemies doesn't mean seeking harmfulness.
- It means dealing with the situation wisely, whilst protecting your emotional interests, and striving for a peaceful and fulfilling life.
- Overcoming these “enemies” obstacles often demands for strong self-awareness, personal growth, and seeking out for network support.
- Facing and conquering these challenges can lead to personal development, resilience, and a road to greater heights and successes.
In Farosson, we strongly embrace our 5 Core Values as depicted in the diagram below, to which this article series today clearly aligns with our values that we consistently uphold.
Being BOLD,
- we are not afraid to reinvent the way we think and do the right thing to deliver greater value to you; and
- we think outside the box, embracing new ideas, technologies and innovations.
Being AGILE,
- we are attuned to the ever-evolving risk and opportunity landscape; and
- we are lifelong students, always exploring innovative and creative approaches to stay ahead of the curve.
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