Column: Complacency in life creates stagnancy

By Rachel Allred

Published Oct. 15, 2010

Fear hinders progression. Complacency stunts improvement. Together, fear and complacency create a force that can keep us from never knowing what could have been, never realizing a better future and could very well be the downfall of us all.

At first glance, the two states of mind might not seem to relate to each other. With closer inspection, it becomes clear they go hand-in-hand.

In order to move forward, we have to be willing to take some risks and accept the changes that come with advancement. But, change can be scary. Instead of dealing with change, it’s easier to become comfortable with the way things are presently. Complacency settles in, and life, even if it’s not the best, becomes comfortable. Outside of that comfort zone can seem like a horrifying place.

I’m gradually realizing how my life, and the lives of those around me, is affected by my own fears and complacency. I have feared life alterations, no matter how positive they might be. A recent experience proved to me I’ve still got a lot to learn.

For years, I have been dealing with a health condition that is difficult to live with, and some days are miserable. After going to a number of doctors, one finally seemed confident he had a solution to my problem. He encouragingly informed me a certain medication has had high success rates in patients like me.

At this news, I was elated. The prospect of a medicine helping me live a bit more normally was exciting. My elation soon died, however, as I began to think about how my life would change if the medication did work. For a long time I’ve lived, in a way, half-alive. Although it’s not exactly fun, I’ve gotten used to and accepted it. To an extent, my life revolved around my health. I wasn’t sure how I would handle feeling better, how I’d readjust my life. It got to a point where I was reluctant to take the medication because I was so afraid of the changes that would accompany it. I took it, it didn’t work, and we’re back to trying different things. I’ve since thought a lot about it. How silly of me to be afraid of something that could better my life, but the fear of change is real.

People dealing with addictions and other harmful habits often face similar emotions. A friend once told me how a habit was hurting him, and he knew it wasn’t good. However, he was uncertain about changing that habit, because it was what he had become accustomed to, and the familiarity of it made him feel safe.

Such complacency is evident on both individual levels and in larger schemes such as administration, politics and law enforcement.

A story from 2005 that re-emerged in the news this year is that of Gary Gieselman, who was severely injured after fellow jail inmates brutally beat him. After upsetting correctional officer Valeria Wilson Jackson, who happened to be the chief deputy sheriff’s daughter, Gieselman was placed with violent inmates. The correctional officer allegedly encouraged Gieselman’s beating. But Gieselman was not the first to be set up by jail officers to be attacked. According to Gieselman, other jail staffers knew of the injustices committed by Jackson and her father, but they ignored the situation. Their complacency contributed to the unfair injury of a man who was imprisoned only on a bad check charge.

Complacency and fear lead to stagnancy. Where there’s stagnancy, there can’t be progression. It’s been said, “Evil thrives when good men do nothing.” Even though it might be frightening, we need to learn to be willing to do something.