A call to inaction.

Lazy, underachiever, immature, irresponsible, non-committal, inefficient, mean, unhelpful, selfish, difficult.

As many words are, these are sounds that have been assigned one or more layers of meaning to enable one human being to obtain a response from another. Often the purpose of using these nouns and adjectives is to manipulate. 

We have learned, over the years, to respond to certain words with feelings and behaviours: "you are lazy" often triggers feelings of shame, and sadness, maybe anger... And what behaviours? Often, more or less reluctantly, doing something. Or even less. Still, not perhaps what we would have done had we not be defined as "lazy".

When we are told we are "mean" we might feel less worthy [than others, of love...], think we matter less in this world, or we are doing more damage than good. Maybe we will try to be "nicer" to compensate. Or it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy and we will get even "meaner", deliberately this time.

There are three major issues with these words.

1) We mistake them for the truth

2) We identify with them permanently, as part of our identity

3) We often speak them to ourselves

So, when these words are uttered, the first thing to do is: nothing.

Say nothing, think nothing, do nothing. 

Practise ἐποχή (epokhē): "suspension of judgement" or "withholding of assent". The Pyrrhonists argue that suspending judgement where there is no empirical evidence will induce a state of ataraxia (freedom from worry and anxiety).

Since words are socially constructed, loaded with a personal history of personal experience, and often accompanied by nonverbal cues that attribute further meaning... They are NOT FACTS.

When you hear words that are pushing you to change your behaviour, your choices, and the way you interact with the world, don't ignore, don't obey, don't worry: do nothing.

Doing nothing will create the space to gather empirical evidence to inform our decisions.

Doing nothing will make space in our minds to make sense of events and interactions lucidly and as objectively as humanly possible. 

Doing nothing will calm your nervous system.

Doing nothing will regulate your emotions.

Doing nothing will stop you from doing something you might regret.

Just try, next time: do less, do less, do less, do nothing.