Europe Needs Conviction

Europe‘s problem isn‘t a lack of competence, or a lack of capital, or a lack of union

Europe’s problem is a lack of convincing conviction. Without conviction of success, of being your own director of success and ability to shape, design and form your future the way you desire, you‘re just not going to get there. Europe has been trying for years many things. But the same way that in a certificate of work someone who has „always tried very hard“, it just means results weren‘t achieved and reality wasn‘t formed.

If you truly want change, conviction of success, or a strong belief come first. All the problems that follow are then seen as expected obstacles to overcome and navigate. But it seems like we still have a societal hangover from the story of the end of history and eternal prosperity in Europe. „We‘re done now, now let‘s just drink wine and make vacation in Spain“.

The issue with trying to keep the US engaged, trying to keep the Russians out, trying to keep societies together and trying to avoid political disasters is that „trying“ signals that we‘re waiting for proof we are able to do so, when it would be our conviction with our action that would be creating the proof that we‘re seeking.

That‘s not how it works, especially in an open and democratic society. Or put it around - if you can only do things in your society once the proof is in, you‘re going to be late by definition.

Joanne Westenberg recently put it very nicely: „Compare this to someone who is “trying.” Trying is a liminal state. It signals that you haven’t yet committed. You’re waiting for proof. But change doesn’t work that way. You don’t get proof until after you’ve committed. Until after you’ve aligned your behavior, your time, your attention, and your emotion with the standard you claim to hold.“

Europe needs to believe in itself, needs to believe in forming, shaping and creating its future, our societies need to regain the belief that we can create conditions of living and day to day that are desirable to live for its constituents.

Europe must start finally believing in its own capabilities again - only then can we find and achieve the success and progress that we have all the building blocks to create for.