What Are You Walking Past and What’s It Say About You

What we ignore or tolerate is to which what we give approval, whether that is consciously or subconscious, not only with other people but ourselves.

“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”

David Morrison

Morrison, chosen the Australian of the year in 2016, spoke those words in advocating for gender equality in the army and shared that he first heard those words from former Chief of Defence, General David J. Hurley.

This recognition of what we choose not to walk past or instead tolerate is critical to understand in everyday life, whether it be in any organization or with any person (about their own lives).

What are we accepting that is not helpful to the other people as individuals and as a collective? Why are we accepting it? What could we decide to do instead that is moral, better and beneficial?

The same goes for us. What are we accepting about ourselves (that has nothing to do with others) that we know is not in our best interests?

This puzzle begs more questions, no matter how unwanted or tedious.

Are you happy with the current standard today?

Will you always be satisfied and at peace with it?

What risks are you willingly assuming with the standard you are walking past and accepting?

Lots of questions. Too many, it probably seems. Yet it’s important to ask them, especially when we really don’t want to do so.

The answers might prove to be sobering and create discomfort or pain yet it’s valuable and protective to open ourselves up to the facts, truth and responsibilities we should be considering with much more wisdom.

Michael Toebe is a founder and communications and reputation specialist for disputes, conflicts, crisis and scandal. He serves individuals and organizations at both Reputation Quality and Reputation Interviews.