The trouble with doing nothing
(Nimue)
Declining to act is not a morally neutral choice. In situations of bullying and abuse, to do nothing is to tacitly support the abuser. It is always the case that doing nothing is a choice that supports the status quo. Given that ‘business as usual’ is killing people and planet alike, that’s an impactful, dangerous sort of choice. Even when there isn’t much we can do, showing up in ways that demonstrate we aren’t supporting what’s happening, is so important.
In our personal lives, doing nothing can easily translate into neglect. If we have power over someone – a child, a vulnerable adult, someone who needs care – then neglect rapidly becomes harmful. In more balanced relationships, neglect can cause distress and discomfort and is likely to result in the other person stepping away. No one wants to be ignored, forgotten or treated dismissively.
It can be easy to persuade ourselves that either we can’t do anything, or it doesn’t matter that we aren’t trying. It can be healthier all round to acknowledge the lack of desire to act, and move on to something better. The person who wants the benefits of their situation without offering any kind of care or appreciation in return may have a lot of motives not to recognise that in themselves.
It is much better to persuade ourselves that the good we can do is worth doing. Whatever we can manage will have an effect. Simply expressing care is radically different from the way inaction affects people and situations. Doing what we can feels more powerful than doing nothing. The rewards from making small changes are not to be underestimated.
If we accept powerlessness, we accept things as they are. If we embrace the idea that we can act meaningfully in the world, we are able to do more than if we refuse that idea. A smile and a kind word can be enough to transform someone else’s day. Small things have a habit of mounting up until they become very large. Inaction over time builds greater feelings of powerlessness and futility. It breeds misery. Showing up builds hope and possibility.
