It follows

Have you come across the horror-ish film ‘It Follows’? The premise is one of a slow-moving, but relentless, creature that pursues the protagonists. This creature never speeds up, but never slows down or stops. It just… follows. You can travel any distance to escape it, but it’s always coming – relentless – and gaining on you the moment you pause.

It’s a little disturbing, but that ominous sense of being followed – of being pursued by something you can never quite shake – has struck a chord with me, especially as I find myself completing some major assignments with my Systems Thinking studies, and realising that for every one I complete, the next one is already looming. No matter what progress I make, how ahead I feel I am – ultimately, it follows. And it’s not just academic work. Life has its own rhythms of recurring tasks – everything from exercise, household chores, keeping up with our friends and family, even eating, sleep – all these things need to be maintained to some kind of a regular, deliberate rhythm. You can’t do them all up front, and you can’t let them slip too long without consequences. Go deeper with this and there are many other recurring dimensions to our human journey, like creativity, learning, mental well-being, and our spiritual or philosophical growth – all things that accompany us as we navigate through life.

So, is it maybe a little unhelpful to view ‘it follows’ as an evil creature or a negative force? Rather than running from them, or feeling their impending presence as a burden, what if we could embrace our creatures, make peace with them? Could we recognise the symbiosis of how they are part of us and how they help make us who we are?

Maybe we could…

1. Embrace, with gratitude

Seeing recurring responsibilities as tasks that are constantly ‘following’ us can make them seem burdensome. But what if we welcomed them as enduring sustenance? They hold value precisely because they return? My Uni assignments are reminders of progress; our recurring meals or exercise regimes remind us of nourishment and care. These routines create structure. They’re signs that we’re alive, and moving, on a path, making meaningful steps in whatever pursuit. Practising gratitude for these repetitive responsibilities doesn’t mean we have to enjoy every moment of them, but it can lighten the weight they infer.

2. Align with purpose in the pursuit

It’s easy to see recurring tasks as just things to ‘get done’. But in each repeated action, there’s a purpose. These tasks aren’t there to merely check off; they’re parts of our journey, whether that’s a learning journey, personal or professional growth, progress with our health and wellbeing, social development… Viewing each recurring responsibility as a step toward a bigger purpose – whether it’s mastery in a field or just self-care – helps shift the mindset from evading tasks to fulfilling a meaningful journey. Every time ‘it follows’, we have a chance to align and reconnect with a deeper purpose.

3. Welcome the accountability

How about imagine each recurring task as a positive checkpoint rather than a foe? When those life tasks ‘follow’ us, they’re not harbingers of dread but invitations to pause, look around, and see how far we’ve come. These checkpoints offer us moments to reflect and ask: What progress have I made? Where can I adjust my path? In this way, the ‘creature’ becomes a familiar and supportive companion, showing up to keep us accountable, check in on us, and ensure we’re still moving forward.

Instead of trying to stay so far ahead that you never see it, embracing your follower lets you set a sustainable pace. That constant presence – chores, duties, growth, development, Uni assignments – maybe represents the rhythm that helps keep us grounded and moving forward.

So, maybe our followers in life aren’t so malevolent after all. They bring meaning and purpose, keep us grounded, and help us find a steady pace. Unlike the creature in the film, our recurring responsibilities shouldn’t be something to run from. Instead let’s embrace them as companions that offer comfort and rhythm, encouraging us to find meaning in the journey and gratitude in their constant presence.