Occupy Yourself - What's It Like In The Wall Street Of Your Mind?

The term ‘occupy yourself’ takes on a new meaning these days, what with the current vogue for occupying spaces. You’re no longer simply keeping busy, but actually claiming yourself as your own. You’re camping inside your own body and mind with a view to raising awareness of the wrongdoings you’ve perpetrated over the years.

But you’re preaching to the converted because you know the wrongs you’ve done, as do Wall Street scoundrels and Square Mile spivs. Yet, like them, you will also have done many wrong things without thinking they were wrong.

If protesters occupied the minds of those they protest about, would they think differently?

It’s a battlefield, the stock market of the mind.

You take stock of yourself and realise how many dreams you’ve traded in at a rotten price, because look where you are now.

Don’t think that all traders are ‘living the dream’ just because they’re rich (ditto all mega-wealthy bankers etc), because some of them will have traded their dreams for what they have now. Some wanted to be artists, novelists, or motor racing champions.

As you occupy yourself, you might ask what you’re worth on the market today. Look around, not only at the pipes and organs (condition of), but your value as a person.

Some financial dealers adopt the Harry Lime attitude, and from their metaphorical Ferris wheel declare that: ‘Nobody thinks in terms of human beings. Governments don't. Why should we? They talk about the people and the proletariat, I talk about the suckers and the mugs - it's the same thing. They have their five-year plans, so have I.’ But you are more noble, more principled than that, aren’t you?

A problem inherent in self-occupation: gaining perspective. It is one thing to occupy part of a physical space shared by Wall Street businessmen, but quite another to occupy their minds. Occupying your own is difficult enough.

As you look at yourself there may be another You watching from a balcony, sipping champagne, smirking, thinking how ridiculous you look. That is the self-satisfied character, but his opinion is worth noting. It may not be wise to let him take over, but the confident, positive part of You is very valuable in the marketplace of the mind.

It may be wise to occupy yourself as an exercise in reappraisal. You may protest about your shortcomings, selfishness, greed, ruthlessness, and wish to make a few changes.

Whilst you’re at it, give yourself a big bonus by working towards making a few of those dreams you once sold come true.