The meet will inherit the earth, according to the Bible and secular say-so over decades.

What does meek even mean these days? Traditional definitions cover a fairly broad spectrum, from reserved observer to downtrodden doormat.

This fortnight, this Philosopher-In-Residence would like you to muse on a couple of quick ponder points:

What Kind of Meek Would Work for You?

and

What Kind of Earth Would You Want to Inherit?

What Kind of Meek Would Work for You?

If it’s not an MO you normally employ, don’t fall prey to a typical homo sapiens habit and think of the derogatory definition. Challenging our primitive first instinctive thoughts never hurts and often helps.

So if you associated meek with the kind of wallflower you’d walk past at a party – try mirroring meekness this week. Smile at a stranger, listen more than you talk, let others make choices, even if that feels a bit weird at first to them and you.

If you see being meek as peak genteel, well, try a risk aversion practice and consider the cons as well as pros of being that yes person. Try saying “no” a smidge more frequently than Brecht’s Good Person of Sezuan, and assess if that works wherever you are.

What Kind of Earth Would You Want to Inherit?

For this ponder point, I’m going to stray towards directive rather than being a mother of meekness myself. Everywhere this Philosopher-In-Residence looks, she sees climate change targets assigned to 2030. But cluttering the pathway to these aims are reams of pointless plastic, corporate greenwash, half-baked (or even half-faked) attempts to show your ESG or CSR or ACRONYM prowess.

So this fortnight, I’ll conclude by pointing out that punishing the polluter starts with bothering yourself. You won’t inherit any kind of earth if you keep buying stuff wrapped in plastic (it’s not all about plastic straws folks). If you buy stuff, you have a duty to use, re-use, preserve – not leave, dispose, don’t care.

Next fortnight, I’ll be musing On Race and be asking some more hard questions to you good people of the United Plandom.

Please get in touch with any particular aspects of this topic you’d like me to write about.

In the meantime,

Happy Planning

PS If you want some other free tips for your business life, check out the Working Well blog – out fortnightly on Wednesdays, courtesy of Make Me A Plan’s Productivity Expert, Penny Le Kelly. Browse the latest edition here: https://www.makemeaplan.com/news/team-building/