Be Active, Not Passive

Have you ever watched a movie and found yourself yelling at the screen because a character refuses to just say the one thing that would clear everything up? You know the generic, not-to-be-confused-with-any-copyright-infringing scene: Blorbo McGlubbins has some crucial information that would immediately solve a problem, but instead of coming out with it, they stumble, stutter, and let Lorpina Frapplebarb storm away upset. What follows is a series of drawn-out misunderstandings and unnecessary drama that could’ve been wrapped up in a single, honest conversation.

Now, a little suspense and anticipation in storytelling is fine. But when characters hold back too much for too long, it drags the plot into a realm of frustration and filler.  It’s much ado about nothing because that’s what’s happening: Nothing. Imagine a situation where Lorpina walks in on what looks like a compromising scene involving Blorbo. In reality, it’s just a big misunderstanding—maybe Blorbo was hugging their sister, not a secret lover. But instead of clearing the air with one decisive line, Blorbo mumbles, “Wait, I can explain,” and lets Lorpina storm off. Instead of driving the story forward, we get a handful of scenes of unnecessary moping, angst, avoidance, and pettiness. Not only is it boring, it’s cheating the audience of their time.

What if Blorbo just took action? What if they shouted over Lorpina with, “That was my sister!” instead? Sure, it might not immediately resolve all the tension, but it gives the story somewhere to go. Maybe Lorpina retorts, “You hug your sister like that?” and the conflict evolves into something richer and more complex. Action propels the narrative; inaction stalls it.

I bet you’ve done this at some point in your life - let inaction drive things rather than action. So many of us let moments pass us by because we’re afraid of speaking up or taking a leap. We’re afraid of what might happen that we don’t let anything happen. We wait for the perfect opportunity, hoping everything will line up just right. We live passively, not actively. But the best stories - and the best lives - are filled with active decisions, not passive avoidance. 

Think about it: How many times have you held back from saying something important because you were embarrassed, afraid, or unsure of how it would be received? How much time have you wasted by hemming and hawing, saying “Wait, I can explain” instead of just explaining? Or worse, how many relationships have suffered because you let misunderstandings fester instead of taking action?

Being active in your life means taking risks, even if it feels uncomfortable. It’s about embracing the opportunities to do and say the things that matter. It’s about confronting the awkwardness head-on and pushing the story forward after - and because - the clarification was made or the information was shared. Because when you choose action over inaction, you create momentum. You give your life the energy it needs to grow, evolve, and surprise you.

Instead of saying, “I’ll wait and see,” try, “I’ll work towards it”. Instead of letting misunderstandings linger, address them in whatever short space you might have. Sure, things might not always turn out perfectly, but at least you’ll have moved the story along. You’ll have lived boldly, rather than watching life unfold from the sidelines. 

If you’re in the passenger seat of a car with a driver not paying attention, and they’re about to sway head-first into oncoming traffic, do you sit there and go, “Uh, hey, I think, um… wait, if you can just—“? No! You shout ‘LOOK OUT!”. 

Unless you, Blorbo, and Florpina are purposely headed over the cliff together whilst holding hands. In that case, I can’t help you, and I’m sorry you’re at the point where you feel like that’s your best option. But this piece presumes that’s not where you are. 

So, next time you’re faced with a moment where you could take action or hold back, remember: Be ACTIVE, not PASSIVE. Life is too short for filler scenes and unresolved plot lines. Drive your story forward from doing, and make it a narrative worth living.