Are You A Captain Of The Universe?

A Captain of the Universe? No, not Captain Universe. :-)

Many captains exist in our lives. We have captains in armies, on sport teams, on ships, in leadership groups, and many other groups. But, perhaps, one place where you never consider having a captain is the universe. Perhaps you have worked with someone or lived with someone who acted as though s/he was captain of the universe. Or maybe you are acting as though you are such a captain.

Captains of the universe are often very much into having everyone behave according to their rules. They want all of us to march according to their orders. Their vocabularies are filled with words like “should,” “have to,” and “expect.” Though these words are not necessarily bad words to use, they can indicate, especially if used on a regular basis, that the person is a “captain of the universe.” These are often people who are not fair minded – people who lack empathy and are not rational in a fair minded sense.

These captains find fault everywhere they look and everywhere they go. They are bothered by others with annoying habits – habits that they think cause them to be unhappy. These captains often display egocentrism and constantly run into incompetence and inconsistencies.

Captains of the universe feel you are lucky to have them around to tell you how to do things right. But, we usually resent being told by these captains what we are expected or have to do. Often, we find ways to be a mutineer on the captain’s “ship of life.” We will do things that deliberately mess things up.

People don’t like hearing “you have to.” This is not good motivation. Good motivation is never based on the fear of what happens if you don’t do something. When the captain says “you have to,” you think of this as restrictive and something that must be done without your ownership to the thought process. In other words, the captain is not only telling you what to do, but implying you must do it without you being convinced in your own mind that this is the right thing to do.

Now, consider if you are a captain of the universe. If so then it is time to resign that position. There is only one captain that you should be and that is captain of yourself. You can always find things that you “should do,” “have to,” etc. You don’t need to be captain of the universe when you have a full time job just being captain of yourself. Make the universe a happier place by finding those things in yourself that need changing in order to make yourself happier. To change everything, simply change your attitude toward yourself! You’ll be happier and so will the universe.

If you are a captain of the universe then perhaps the first verse of Walt Whitman’s famous poem, O Captain! My Captain! is appropriate.

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,

The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;

But O heart! heart! heart!

O the bleeding drops of red!

Where on the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.

Let the captain (of the universe) fall, figuratively speaking,  cold and dead!

**I would love to read your comments.**