An alternative to fleeing the bad

In the far-reaching conversation between John Vervaeke, Iain McGilchrist and Daniel Schmachtenberger, Iain makes the following point, which I’ll paraphrase:

We need to notice the things that draw us from the front, not just the things that push us from behind.… Values are an example of something that pulls us forward - towards something greater than ourselves.

This comes up often in coaching too.

At first, the idea rarely lands. Why?

Because we’re wired to react. We wait until something feels off, then scramble to change course. Something irritates us, we adjust. More discomfort arrives, and we tweak again. We end up being steered from behind—by discomfort and frustration.

But to be drawn forward takes time. It requires space carved out for reflection. The things that pull us aren’t always loud. They are easily lost in the noise. Often they begin as hunches, longings, images in the mist.

What draws us forward? A value. A vision. A sense of the sacred.

In a culture obsessed with what’s measurable, it’s these quieter forces that still shape lives—from religion to science, from family to art.

And it’s not just soulful. It’s strategic. Reactionary movements burn out. But visions rooted in the good, the true, the beautiful endure. They lead from the front.