The Devil's Errors: Vigilance in Times of Comfort
A meditation on hidden problems—those that masquerade as stability and success until they strike. The writer argues that true problem-solving requires not just addressing obvious obstacles, but maintaining active awareness during moments of apparent safety, comfort, and achievement.
"The greatest problem of every problem lies in the unawareness of it"
Sometimes, one is tempted to summarize Life as a "Problem solving venture". With good reason because how else would one describe the quest for survival other than such?
While these problems and solutions may be different for each individual, it's basically the same thing taking different forms. The fact that money which is the epicenter of all, and every human transaction only follows solutions says a lot about the nature of life.
Problem solving is therefore what keeps us relevant and on our feet since some solutions are personal and others collective.
So, you would see why going about life oblivious of problems is a big issue for one and all Right?
Most problems by their nature are obvious, they stand out like a sore thumb, and you can't help but notice them. These ones are a piece of cake, easily identified, easily solved.
Then, there are the "devil's errors", they are like Chameleons that blend into their environment so perfectly such that no one notices their presence. Problems of this nature wear the cloak of invisibility until it's time to mess and ruin things then they show up.
You think all is well and so you relax and let your guard down. Everyone around you is cheering you on as well, everything is going perfectly well. The perfect setting for chaos to veil itself and strike.
Like Pancreatic Cancer, one of the deadliest Cancers; the problem isn't obvious until it's almost impossible to fix it. You Know Cancerous cells usually start off as healthy cells, right? And before you know it, they go on self-destructive mood and you're fighting for your life.
The fun is, the problems are usually present, just hard to notice. They hide behind situations such as:
- Haste -Confidence -Sense of Security -Comfort -Success -Power
Moments where we either think all is well or can't afford to be cautious. This means that we must go the extra mile, put in more effort, always search thoroughly, slowly, steadily and remain focused to notice them.
A devil's error could ruin your business before you know, it could ruin your relationship when all seems well, it could ruin your chances at success right at the nick of time, it could stall your overall growth.
Remember that when all is well in life, that is when you should be most cautious and on the lookout.
- Wandji Winifred
Written in late 2022, this piece reflects a broader philosophical concern with the blindness that can accompany success and ease. It speaks to a universal human tendency to lower our guard when circumstances appear favorable, and to the cost of that inattention.
The piece offers a sober counternarrative to narratives of relentless optimism or passive trust in good fortune. Its warning—that danger often hides beneath success, comfort, and confidence—remains acutely relevant as a call for sustained critical attention to one's circumstances, relationships, and work, rather than complacency. The medical metaphor (pancreatic cancer) lends the argument moral weight without melodrama.