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How to Survive in Babylon

In this book, you’ll often come across the word “Babylon.” You might wonder, what does Babylon mean? In this introduction, I’ll give you a brief summary of what I mean by Babylon today, not the historical context from where it originally came. The Babylon I’m talking about is a systematic program we all know as the government. Babylon is a system with its own institutions, like schools, hospitals, banks, and so on. The media, news, and corporate television are also part of the Babylon system. Babylon isn’t just a system; it’s also a society. It’s become a way of life for the modern Western world. This society reflects what the Babylon system stands for chaos, confusion, and disorder.

How to Move in Babylon

Surviving in Babylon these days is tough with everything happening around us daily. You might wonder how to navigate a society that’s so rigid, stuck in its ways, and unwilling to take responsibility for its actions. We face peer pressure from friends, societal trends, the struggle between being popular and not, constant political agendas affecting everyday life, broken families, distractions from celebrities and social media, identity issues like gender confusion, and the list goes on.

You might ask, how can anyone succeed in a society with so many obstacles? Let’s start with some basic principles for navigating Babylon.

1  Know Yourself

First, you must know who you are. Without self-knowledge, you can’t be consistent in your daily actions, which will leave you feeling complacent. To know who you are, start your journey of self-discovery. This will help you understand how you function as an individual. Ask yourself: What are your likes and dislikes? What motivates you to get things done? What type of people do you enjoy being around? Who do you prefer to avoid?

Can you be yourself around different kinds of people? If the answer is yes, that’s great. If the answer is no, let’s take a basic approach to change that. First, study the different types of people around you. Then, find a part of their personality or lifestyle that resonates with you and use that to build common ground.

Knowing yourself also means accepting yourself. Many people struggle with this due to what I call a character diversion. This is when someone diverts their true character and behaves with a false sense of self. This isn’t healthy, as it creates a psychological barrier in your mind. For example, if you act out of character to fit into a certain social circle, you’ll start to believe the real you isn’t good enough for that circle. This can create self-doubt and make you question your decisions, stagnating your growth and building unhealthy frustration. Therefore, it’s very important to be yourself without apologies. Remember, to be yourself is to know yourself.

2. Think For Yourself

To navigate Babylon effectively, you have to think for yourself. This can be challenging, as many people tend not to think independently due to social engineering from social media, TV, peers, and even parents and social circles. Receiving information from others and keeping an open mind isn’t a problem. However, if you accept information without questioning it, that can cause issues in the long run. Incorrect information can lead to bad decisions that might have irreversible consequences.

One way to think for yourself is to educate yourself on various subjects. This can change your mindset and help you understand the world and society better. Knowing how people operate will help you move effectively. Let’s look at some examples of how you can navigate Babylon effectively.

First and foremost, If you’re traveling to work on public transport, like a bus or train, instead of listening to music or watching a video on your phone, take a few minutes to look around. Observe the behaviour of the people around you, see how they interact with each other, and notice how they move. If you do this every time you use public transport, you’ll start to see patterns of behaviour. For instance, on your bus journey, you might notice that most people are anti-social, just sitting on their phones and not engaging with each other. If this is a regular occurrence, you’ll learn that your bus ride to work isn’t the best place to try and socialise. Most people on that journey just want to be on their phones and aren’t interested in socialising. This observation will teach you how to navigate public transport more effectively.

Secondly, Make it a daily habit to study your environment every time you step outside, whether you’re just going to the shop, taking a walk, heading to work on public transport, or attending an event. In today’s modern society, there are many different characters, and understanding this helps you navigate through the everyday chaos of Babylon. For example, whenever you walk in public, use what I call the 180-degree look-around view. This means looking straight ahead, then to your left, back to straight ahead, then to your right, and back to straight ahead again. This practice helps you see what’s happening on both sides of you, increasing your awareness.

It’s important to understand that many unstable people are walking around in public daily, so being aware of your surroundings helps you move accordingly. Consistently studying your environment keeps you ahead of the average person. It allows you to see how people interact with each other and how they react to situations. This type of awareness prepares you to deal with different types of people and successfully navigate your everyday environment.

Finally, We live in a society that’s often uncivil, hostile, and sometimes even violent. One reason for this is that many people don’t know how to respond calmly and effectively. So, let’s briefly discuss how to move with inner peace in Babylon society. When you step outside, program your mind to be at peace. If you don’t know how to do this, here’s a simple approach: Tell yourself, “As I leave my house today, I will not commit violence, I will not argue with anyone, I will not react but only respond, I will not cause any problems, I will just go about my business and come home in one piece.” Operating with this mindset and attitude will help you deal better with people, including the hostile ones you might encounter in public or at work. For instance, if someone accidentally bumps into you but apologises because they’re in a rush, instead of reacting angrily, respond calmly and say, “It’s okay.” This way, you save your energy and go about your day without added stress.

3. Build Your Confidence

Confidence is another principle that will help you not only survive in Babylon but also lead a prosperous life wherever you are in the world. In a society that doesn’t really encourage individuality, it can be hard to be confident in yourself and your abilities. Many people behave like clones of each other, lacking originality and too afraid to be themselves. They lack the courage and confidence to show their true character. If you continue to live without confidence, it will hinder your growth and progress. You might become jealous of those around you who have the confidence to pursue their goals while you just stand by and watch them flourish. This jealousy can build up in your heart because you wish you had their confidence. But what if I told you that you can be just as confident as your peers? You might ask, how can I get to that level of confidence? Let’s explore some examples of how to build confidence in yourself.

By Courtney Sharpe