We often complain about things that are largely within our control. What we usually lack is not capability, capacity, or resources—but the will and determination to improve our condition.
Instead, many of us choose safer narratives: complaining, playing the victim, or blaming others. These stories quietly shift power away from us. Responsibility moves outward, and we remain passive—suffering through the actions, decisions, and behaviour of others.
This feels comforting on the surface. If others are responsible, we are absolved. But the moment we hand power to others, we also give up our ability to act. Agency disappears the instant responsibility is outsourced.
Consider the narratives we hear frequently, especially at executive levels:
- “The culture of this organisation is toxic. Nothing can be done.”
- “We do everything manually here. Our people don’t like change.”
- “Your family is mean to me. They don’t want me.”
There are countless variations of these stories. They sound reasonable. They often feel justified. Yet each one subtly drains power from the person telling it.
The real cost is not the situation itself.
The real cost is losing the opportunity to take charge.
And once we stop taking charge, improvement quietly becomes impossible.
