How to Fail or Get Stagnant, on Purpose

Annually, people formulate plans to thrive in the new year. However, things usually do not go well. Many complain of "bad luck" or blame someone for their debacle. They feel like prisoners of an unjust destiny and impotent victims of the circumstances. Fortunately, it is already known that human beings can influence the outcome of our actions, whether for good or evil. For example, while analyzing the variables involved in failure, we find that the following five behaviors can help fail and/or remain stagnant intentionally:

Delayism: it is the tendency to postpone any obligation. Don’t do things when asked, wait until you feel like it. Soon everyone will notice your style. Thanks to the Law of Self-Regulation and Balancing of Incomplete Tasks (LSBIT), you will be considered unreliable and people will avoid dealing with you.

Blamism: it is the habit of blaming someone for what goes wrong and also a strategy to explain faults. Do not accept any incrimination for mistakes. Routinely, make others responsible for any negative events. Due to Law of Constant Recirculation of Guilt And Shame (LCRGS), you will be blamed frequently. However, it is very likely that they will never tell you straight, quietly staying away from you.

Workavoidism: refers to the inclination of avoiding any difficult job. Become invisible when there is much to do or when situations get complicated. Due to the Heavy Load Relief and Compensation System (HLRCS), you will not be assigned any serious task in the future, not to get frustrated with you.

Mefirstism: it is the practice of taking advantage without worrying about anyone else. Try to use others for your own benefit. Be the center of attention and talk about ideas or actions of others as if they were yours. This activates the Law of Periodic Redistribution of Leadership and Recognition (LPRLR). Since you are already dedicated to self-serving and self-indulging, then there is no need to take you into account.

Minimalism: this is the art of always giving the least. Produce as little as possible in any given situation. Just do a minimum of what asked. Contribute just enough to get by. Others will conclude that you are well below the average expected group output. Due to the Principle of Recurrent Interpersonal Accounting (PRIA), surely others will avoid teaming up with you and will judge you dispensable.

In the long run, thanks to the Law of Universal Mutual Observation (LUMO) and the Pattern of Homeostatic Remuneration for Effort (PHRE), the people around you ensures that you receive the deserved. If you apply those principles they will defer, ignore, avoid and blame you, and will do for you as little as possible. Thus, if you want to fail or get stuck in the new year, you already have the tools.

On the contrary, if you wish to be successful, apply the following rules:

1. Immediate Action. Act immediately. Do not procrastinate.

2. Effort: work hard. Contribute passionately and do more than you are asked to do.

3. Commitment: put your chest when the big challenges appear and offer to solve problems even if they are not yours.

4. Self-criticism: self-reflect constantly and ask to be evaluated from time to time.

5. Altruism: get used to thinking about others. Be generous, dedicate yourself to serving.

With this pattern of behaviors and thanks to the above mentioned laws, in return, you will receive many favors, get offered new opportunities and there will be people who care about you. If you combine these five elements with good humor, optimism, persistence, clear goals and harmonious relationships, success and progress will be guaranteed for life.

Now you know better. Avoid unintentionality by all means. Taking control of either your own success or your failure is the best way to go.

By Ramón Rojano, PhD, MFT, MPH, CPC

rojanophd@gmail.com

www.ramonrojano.com