5 Ways to Become a MINDLESS COG in the SYSTEM (Without Even Realizing It)
Are You Unknowingly Trapped?
I’ve been feeling stuck lately. It’s like I’m just going through the motions, ticking off tasks on my to-do list without really asking myself if any of it matters.
I look around and see so many people doing the same thing: wake up, go to work, come home, repeat. There’s a feeling in the pit of my stomach that tells me something is wrong, but I can’t quite figure out what it is.
What am I personally dealing with right now?
A sense of disconnection.
I want to feel like what I’m doing has real meaning, like I’m not just another cog in the machine.
But every time I chase that feeling, I end up back where I started — trapped in routines that don’t satisfy me.
So, I asked myself: How did I end up here?
So, I did what I often do when faced with a problem: I flipped it.
I asked myself: How do we become mindless cogs, and more importantly, how do we break free?
1. Living for the Approval of Others
That feeling when you’re constantly checking for likes on social media, or waiting for that nod of approval from your boss or family? I’m guilty of that too.
It’s exhausting, isn’t it?
Deep down, we all want to be liked, respected, admired. But, living for the approval of others is a trap.
How it makes things worse:
When you’re constantly seeking validation, you lose sight of who you are.
Your choices start being driven by what other people want, not what you want.
You become part of the system — moldable, predictable, and controlled.
The system loves it when you crave approval.
It keeps you busy trying to conform, dependent on external rewards — promotions, praise, or social acceptance.
Meanwhile, your true self gets buried under layers of “what other people think.”
What To Do:
Stop asking for permission.
Your worth is not determined by anyone else’s approval.
Do things because they align with your values, not because they make others like you.
2. Accepting Busyness Over Productivity
Let me ask you, how often do you feel proud of being “busy”? I know I used to.
I realized something: I was filling every moment of my day with tasks, but none of it was moving me forward.
You fill your time with shallow tasks — emails, meetings, busy work — that don’t add real value.
The system thrives on your busyness.
If you’re constantly distracted, you don’t have time to think critically.
You don’t have time to ask, “Am I spending my time on what truly matters?”
What To Do:
Focus on deep, meaningful work.
Choose tasks that require focus but actually move the needle in your life or work.
Do what actually matters not that it feels good and easy.
3. Buying into “Success” Metrics You Don’t Care About
We keep chasing things — money, promotions, status — only to realize that none of it makes us happy.
But I kept chasing it anyway because, well, that’s what everyone does, right?
You keep climbing a ladder you don’t even care about.
Worse, you lose sight of the things that actually matter to you — maybe that’s freedom, creativity, or relationships.
The system defines success in narrow terms.
It wants you to believe success equals more money, a bigger house, and a better title.
That’s just a way to keep you running in circles, never satisfied.
What To Do:
Redefine success on your own terms.
Maybe success for you means having time to travel or to work on a passion project.
Measure success by your metrics, not the system’s.
4. Numbing Yourself with Routine and Distraction
Wake up, work, watch Netflix, go to bed — only to do it all over again the next day? Yeah, Like me.
It’s comfortable, but it’s also numbing.
When you stick to the same routines, you stop questioning.
You stop growing and settle into a passive existence.
The system doesn’t need to control you because you’re controlling yourself.
The system loves it when you’re distracted and numb.
It doesn’t need you to rebel or think critically.
It just needs you to stay in your comfortable bubble, mindlessly consuming entertainment and distractions.
What To Do:
Break your routines.
Try something new, something uncomfortable.
Don’t numb yourself to the world around you — engage with it.
5. Letting Fear of Failure Keep You Stagnant
I’ll be honest —as an introvert fear of failure still gets me sometimes.
That voice in my head that says, “What if you try and it doesn’t work? What if people judge you?”
The system uses fear to keep you in line.
If you’re too afraid to take risks, you won’t ever challenge the status quo.
You’ll stay exactly where the system wants you — playing it safe, never asking for more.
What To Do:
Fail forward.
Failure is a lesson.
Every risk is a chance to grow.
Wait a Sec
If you want to read more stories like this,
Join 215+ Curious People in my newsletter:
(FREE)
Your time means a lot to me, and I promise not to waste it.
Thank you!