Distant perspectives

… or how to get a grip

“I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to.”

“Anything I want quickly becomes mine.”

“What lies ahead is greater than what you expected.”

These are just three affirmations from a fairly random selection of Instagram affirmation accounts.

One thing about affirmations - probably one of the things that makes them so powerful - is that they are often patently untrue. Or, to put in more kindly, they are clearly aspirational.

If you come to an affirmation like the ones above with a critical disposition, you will probably have an “emperor’s got no clothes” kind of moment. These statements are obviously not true. So obviously not true that it’s hard to point it out. But here goes.

I can’t do anything I want by putting my mind to it. I can’t play professional rugby, for example. I’m too old, and when I was younger, I was too small.

I want a Lamborghini. I have wanted one for many years. It has not “quickly become mine.”

What lies ahead might be greater. Or it might be less. It might be illness,…