New Beginnings, Every Day

Bob Staretz

A familiar cliché defines insanity as “doing the same thing repeatedly while expecting different results”. While the phrase is often used without much contemplation, it captures something profound about the human behavior and ego. The ego, by its very nature, resists change. It clings to familiar patterns of thought and behavior, even when those patterns of behavior no longer serve us well.

In ancient times, this tendency to resist change was not a flaw but a survival mechanism. Life was relatively stable, and threats or opportunities remained consistent across generations. Habits and beliefs formed early in life, whether in hunting, gathering, or in social interactions, were all reliable guides for survival. Change, when it did occur, unfolded slowly, allowing our ancestors ample time to adapt. The ego’s attachment to routine and unexamined behaviors was a strength, anchoring individuals to proven strategies in a world where novelty was rare and physical threats were continuous and dangerous.

Long ago, if a certain fruit was poisonous, the lesson was passed down from one generation to the next and rarely questioned. If the unnatural movement of tall grass indicated the possibility of a predator lurking in the bushes, avoidance or aggression was automatic. These patterns were not only effective but essential. The ego’s insistence on repetition of behavior and adherence to old habits were a safeguard against risk of the unknown or unexamined.

Today, however, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Change is no longer gradual; it is constant, rapid, often beyond our control and in many cases no longer a physical threat to our survival or even to our wellbeing. Technological innovation, constant access to information, global interdependence, and constantly shifting cultural and social norms confront us with new realities often before we even recognize them. Behaviors that once served us well in youth, or just a few years earlier, whether ways of communicating, working, or relating to others often quickly become obsolete in rapidly changing environments. Worse yet, resistance to change can now foster resentment, resistance and reluctance in others at best and, at worst, can lead to outright hostility or even violence.

Yet the ego, rooted in habit, in fixed beliefs and in protecting its own identity, resists acknowledging outdated beliefs and behaviors. It generally operates from the principle of what worked before must surely still work, even if evidence surfaces to the contrary. We tend to ignore this evidence and continue to respond to situations without any regard to the possibility that these responses may no longer be appropriate nor even acceptable.

Consider the workplace. A manager who once thrived by micromanaging may find that such behavior alienates or devalues employees who value autonomy or competence. In relationships, communication styles that worked in adolescence may fail in adulthood or as one advances in their career. In politics, strategies that succeeded in one era may collapse in another. The ego, however, often refuses to adapt, clinging to the illusion that repetition of the old ways will eventually guarantee or restore success.

Part of the difficulty lies in the ego’s role as the custodian of our identity. To change a behavior is not merely to alter an action; it is to challenge the self-image that has been built around that action or the set of beliefs that underlie them. If someone has always seen themselves as “decisive”, admitting that their decisiveness now manifests as stubbornness or close mindedness will threaten their sense of self. Thus, the ego resists change not only out of habit but out of fear of loss of control or even diminution.

This explains why the cliché of insanity resonates so strongly with ego-driven behavior. The ego repeats not because it is irrational, but because it is protective. It shields us from the discomfort and embarrassment of admitting that we were wrong, or that we lack adequate situational information or that we must evolve and adapt to new ways of responding. Yet by doing so, our ego traps us in cycles of futility and behaviors that may no longer be appropriate.

To live effectively in the modern and rapidly changing world, we must cultivate continual introspection. Unlike our ancestors of a few hundred years ago and earlier, we cannot rely on instinct beliefs or habits learned at a very early age to last a lifetime. We must consciously evaluate our behaviors and our actions , asking whether they remain appropriate to our circumstances and desires. This requires humility: the willingness to admit that old accepted patterns may no longer serve us, and the courage to replace them with new ones.

Unfortunately, many people lack the skills or the inclination to engage in self-examination. The ego prefers comfort over challenge, familiarity over uncertainty. As a result, individuals often persist in outdated behaviors, trapped in cycles that resemble the cliché of insanity.

Examples

• Politics: Leaders who cling to outdated ideologies often find themselves out of step with rapidly shifting societies. The refusal to adapt can lead to unrest or irrelevance.

• Society and culture: Societal or cultural norms are constantly changing as new generations mature and take their place as adults in the workplace and our institutions. Hanging on to old beliefs about what is acceptable or unacceptable behaviors can put us on the outside of the current societal trends and acceptable behaviors.

• Business: Companies that fail to innovate by clinging to old products or methods are quickly overtaken by competitors. Blockbuster’s refusal to adapt to streaming technology is a classic example.

• Relationships: Couples who rely on the same communication or conflict patterns without reevaluating their communication styles often find themselves repeating arguments without resolution while growing in frustration and anger with their partner.

• Personal Growth: Individuals who define themselves by youthful or prior achievements may struggle to adapt to new stages of life, repeating behaviors that no longer align with their goals nor current societal expectations.

Our survival and ability to adapt and thrive in the modern and rapidly changing world demands much more than adherence to fixed beliefs, old behaviors and instinct; it requires constant reflection and introspection. The ego must be constantly guided by new awareness and introspection, lest it lead us into the futility of repeating old mistakes and sticking to inappropriate behaviors.

Insanity, then, is not merely a clinical condition but a metaphor for the ancient inherited human tendency to resist change. To transcend it, we must embrace the discomfort of growth, the unknowns that it may foster and the recognition that in a world defined by constant flux, sanity and safety lies not in repetition of old unexamined ways of being and acting but in continual adaptation and evaluation of our behaviors and interactions.