The Power of Restraint in Uncertain Times
By Baba Colley
There’s a simple image that captures a profound truth: a fish eyeing a baited hook, accompanied by the words “even fish can stay out of trouble if they keep their mouth shut.” While humorous on the surface, this meme reveals something deeper about human nature and our tendency toward unnecessary engagement.
We live in an era of unprecedented access to platforms and audiences. Social media has transformed everyone into a potential broadcaster, commentator, and analyst. The troubling consequence of this democratization of voice is the erosion of meaningful expertise. When everyone claims authority on every subject, the genuine experts—those whose knowledge we desperately need during critical moments—struggle to be heard above the noise.
The world presents us with countless crises: armed conflicts, political upheaval, climate disruption, and economic pressures. For most of us, these forces lie entirely beyond our sphere of influence. We cannot broker peace between nations, reverse policy decisions made in distant capitals, command the weather, or single-handedly reshape market forces. Accepting this reality isn’t defeatism—it’s wisdom.
Understanding that circumstances are temporary and often cyclical opens a different path forward. Rather than exhausting ourselves reacting to every development, we can practice discernment. We can position ourselves thoughtfully for whatever comes next, conserving our energy and attention for what actually matters.
Those who master restraint gain something invaluable: mental space. While others are consumed by the urgency of each passing moment, disciplined individuals maintain perspective. They resist the compulsion to weigh in on everything, recognizing that not every situation demands their opinion or allegiance. They understand that rushing to take sides often obscures more than it reveals.
In your own life, seek out those rare individuals who remain steady when others spiral. Watch how they navigate uncertainty. Notice their patience, their reluctance to speak without understanding, their comfort with ambiguity. These are the people who have something to teach us about weathering storms.
The lesson is straightforward but not easy: in a world that rewards constant reaction, restraint becomes a radical act. Don’t let panic dictate your choices. Don’t make irreversible decisions about circumstances you cannot control. Sometimes the wisest response to chaos is simply to close your mouth, keep your head clear, and wait for the water to settle before you move.
What am I talking about?
The Gambia has just been added to the Trump administration’s partial travel ban list. The full implications? Unclear. The details? Still emerging. The duration? Unknown.
This is precisely the kind of moment when restraint matters most.
The immediate instinct might be to demand swift government retaliation or to amplify outrage across every available platform. But knee-jerk responses to incomplete information rarely serve anyone well. Diplomatic situations are complex, often involving factors the public cannot see. What appears straightforward from the outside may have layers of nuance that take time to understand.
If this decision affects you directly if you have family connections, business interests, or travel plans tied to The United States, the uncertainty is genuinely difficult. The frustration is real and valid. But this is not the moment to abandon your plans or surrender to helplessness.
Instead, this is a time for dual focus: stay informed as the situation develops, while simultaneously working on alternative pathways. Explore contingencies. Strengthen other aspects of your plans that remain within your control. Adapt where necessary, but don’t dismantle what you’ve built based on a policy that may evolve, shift, or be temporary.
Patience isn’t passivity. It’s the discipline to separate what you can influence from what you cannot, and to invest your energy accordingly. Let the situation clarify before demanding action. Let the facts emerge before choosing your response.
This restriction is an obstacle, not an ending. Keep working. Keep planning. Keep moving forward.
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