The Hidden Whisper

Entitlement

For the first time, I’ve found myself living at the very end of a train line. Naturally one of the attractions is that there’s a good probability you will be able to get a seat, even in the rush hour. Indeed some people will even miss a train if it means they can be in the front of the queue for the next one where they will guaranteed be able to get a seat. Observing peoples behaviour on trains is always fascinating. Levels of irritability, entitlement, lack of consideration for others, and management of personal space are amongst the most common issues. In the train we often experience greater levels of physical proximity than is normal throughout the day. On the train the rush hour, you are physically much closer to people you don’t even know, than you probably have ever been with your work boss or colleagues who you spend all day with. It therefore makes for a very interesting set of psychological dynamics. A lot of this article is based on assumptions which may or may not be true, but it is how I see the situation. “Entitlement” is responsible for most of the conflicts in the world. Land ownership, entitlement to bigger bonuses, access to more rights, etc are at the crux of most tension in the world. So back to the train scenario, is it natural for people who get on the train first to feel a sense of entitlement and right to a seat more so than someone getting on the train for just a couple of stops?  If someone has waited for 3 trains in order for them to get a seat, do they then feel a greater sense of entitlement? If a person who works for the MTR and is a train driver gets on the train, should they feel a greater sense of entitlement? Should locals over tourists or foreigners feel a greater sense of entitlement to the things in their country? Whatever the case may be, this sense of entitlement is probably the most common cause of serious conflicts in the world. The challenges of the world are more often than not up-scaled versions of micro-challenges that we all face every day. The feeling of entitlement to a seat is the same feeling in essence as the cause of most wars. In Britain, there was recently a documentary about how migrants are 10 times more hard working than locals. This is leading to their being more successful, and over time I believe will have a bearing in the countries distribution of wealth like it has done for decades. This creates more challenges around entitlement. Is something yours through birth-right, or through hard work? All very controversial questions that will trigger sentiment in a lot of people. It is indeed the same sentiment that is responsible for much of the political flavour in the past years, and there’s no reason to believe why it won’t be going forward either. On the other hand, times are changing at the top and in successful people in their empathy and outlooks on the world. There are some strong and positive role models who are following a more open manner of leadership with humility, as we can see from some of the UK’s royal family.

Beauty of Humility

The problem with powerful positions is that they fuel the entitlement complex. Hard work whilst also an essential ingredient in building substance, can also give rise to entitlement. It is unfortunate that those ingredients required for greatness can also so easily give rise to this damaging complex. How this entitlement-complex is managed is down to character. If a person is humble and empathetic by nature then they will not like the entitlement-complex, and will continue to be humble even in external success. However, if a person starts to believe their own hype, then it can easily give rise to the entitlement-complex and more so as they become more successful externally. The internal vs external success factors are therefore different. There is a story that Alexander the Great appointed an advisor who would whisper to him constantly throughout the day “You are Mortal. You are just a Man. You are Mortal. You are just a Man.” This was to help Alexander the Great manage his entitlement-complex. Unfortunately most people aspiring to be great don’t want this whisper, however if we live in reality then the whisper will be most welcome. The reality is that if we don’t play back this whisper, then the laws of nature will. In a world of so many differences, the greatest undisputed commonality is that of our human mortality. Therefore, instead of focusing on our greatness as a goal for ourselves, we can indeed pursue greatness for the betterment of others, in a spirit of giving whilst knowing the reality that our existence in this world is far more futile than we care to accept. This is indeed why children are the most inspiring people in terms of internal attitude; their absorption in the moment rather than the result of greatness for themselves, is commonly the focus. Before schooling etc, this is their natural mindset. To pursue results in a spirit of living in the moment is far more conducive to a healthy mental state that contributes positively to society and those around us, than to continually hanker for that which we do not have or own.  

Humility is therefore the most beautiful jewel in any Throne of Success.