This post is my perspective on what is happening with the human species currently. It will not be watered down, or coated with sweet words to make the facts go down easier. I have been thinking about this for a while and I do not think that what I have come up with is a definite conclusion or that it is that simple. I do realize the global situation is complex, and there are many factors to what is happening worldwide at this time. But nonetheless, my intention is to open the minds that reads this to see life a bit differently, even if you don’t agree, at least exploring the idea with open curiosity.
Depression and anxiety rates are very high on this planet. Many, if not most people are under enough stress that it is negatively affecting their health. Adrenal fatigue, depression, anxiety are at alarmingly high rates. The surprising thing is that I live in North America where I am directly observing this. There is no war, no starvation, no lack of medical care, no severe poverty. Compared to many other places in the world we are doing pretty damn good. Of course there is some poverty and lack of resources, but I am talking about the general population- the mainstream (in North America). We are pretty well off, but I would not say we are happy – not satisfied as the Rolling Stones song goes ‘I can’t get no satisfaction’…. Oh the plight of the modern age. Of course, there are some people that are happy but again I am talking about the general population. If the general population was happy, there wouldn’t be so much talk about living your dream, trying to escape into some other life, advertising all sorts of material goods to buy to fill the emptiness, plastic surgery etc and depression, anxiety and stress rates wouldn’t be that high.
How many people do you know that are actually happy? Like really, actually happy? Not just saying it, not just pretending, but deeply happy and satisfied? I know a couple, but I wouldn’t say I know a few.
Humanity is chasing after an idea, an idea of happiness. An idea of the dream life. It is pretty, markable and people buy into it, sipping mojitos on a beach anyone? I don’t think it exists. I think that this chasing is a distraction from what is really happening and what is creating our lack of satisfaction. ‘It is never good enough, it is never enough’ is the mantra of our society.
Look at the state of our planet right now. Because of this endless desire, endless craving, the planet is greatly suffering, animals are going extinct at an alarming rate. Yes, this is uncomfortable. Yes, this is not unicorns and rainbows. But we have to face the facts. We cannot go into thinking it will magically take care of itself. Keep reading.
What causes the mass amounts of anxiety and the depression and this feeling of emptiness?
Humans are the stewards of the land. Go back thousands of years, into myth and stories, humans were the guardians. Humans were in relationship with the land. The land depended on us and we depended on it. Yet, now there is memes, ideas circulating that the planet would be better off without humans. The mentality of the human collective has created a state where it is better if humans didn’t exist. We have gone so far from our purpose. We have moved so far away from beings stewards of the land, being in connection with nature, that we are now the destroyers, parasites and viruses of Mother Earth. OH NO, not good… Doesn’t feel good or look good. Yucky..
We do not protect, we take and take until there is nothing left, all the while doing it mindlessly. We are distracted – by our stressful jobs, our lack of time to do and think about things we enjoy, our cellphones, social media, the television the radio, the news etc. Everywhere we turn someone is telling us to think something, believe something. Giving us no place to be in silence to think for ourselves.
It is all bullshit. It is all a distraction from what is important.
I crave the freedom of my own mind to roam the meadows of my creative thoughts. To dream without interference, for that is when I have moments of deep reflections that I discover what life is really about. What really matters.
I am not writing this to put a new thought into your head. I am writing this for you to think in another way. The mind stream of the main stream heads in one direction, I am saying there is other directions. Sometimes we forget and need to be reminded. Think for yourself.
As I said above, depression and anxiety rates are high. Mental illness rates are high. The worst part being that these people are suffering and many people do not know. It is a silent illness. We can even pretend we are okay and that is why it is so deceiving.
I have struggled with depression and anxiety on and off in my life and what I have found that helped were a few things.
- Being in nature and connecting with it
- Being with community and connecting with it
- Prayer and meditation and connecting with the Divine.
- Exercising and connecting with my emotions, sweat and tears
- Writing, painting, connecting with my creativity
- Slowing down and connecting with my self
- Connecting to something greater than myself in purpose
There has always been an element of connection. When we connect to things within us and outside of us, we feel better. When we isolate ourselves, feel unsupported we struggle, and don’t know how we will get through. Disconnecting with thoughts and emotions because they are painful and we don’t want to look at them can cause depression. Letting those thoughts be acknowledged and accepted leads us to healing. Re-connecting, re-mending all parts of our minds and psyches leads to healing, just like our flesh.
CONNECTION is vital for our mental and emotional health
Thalita Angelika
(This is a whole discussion in itself but online interaction is not the same as physically being with people. We do not get the juiciness of the interaction, the energetic exchange. It feels and is different.)
Nature, we all feel better in nature. Many of my favourite memories are in nature.
Nature has been scientifically proven to reduce our stress rates. Nature does a lot more and the ancients knew that, but science is a bit behind proving. Eventually, they will get there.
Nature is us, and when we are disconnected from it and live in big cities and never get the chance to put our feet in the soil we feel like shit. The earth is the best medicine. I believe that humans are the stewards of the land. We are the guardians of this planet and that is our purpose. I believe depression and anxiety rates are high because we are severely nature deprived, the nature vitamin is missing in our lives. As well, a big part of it is that humans are not connecting, protecting and fostering life/nature and deep down in our subconscious we know this.
When humans do heroic acts it is celebrated. When a person saves a dog or a child from drowning in an ice lake, when we save a baby bird that has fallen out of the nest we feel good. We feel like our life has meaning. Other people also feel good when they witness these acts. It opens their hearts. That is why we support and buy from organizations and companies that are trying to help and do good things.
Humans are life sustainer, creators and protectors and when we destroy life we suffer because we are life. Focusing on helping life outside of us, helps our life. Humans want to do the right thing and I believe, that when humans aren’t doing what they feel is right, or in alignment with their values, they feel guilty deep inside and this creates the source of inner conflict that leads to hopelessness, depression and anxiety.
We want to do the right thing, we want to save the oceans, we want to save the forests, we want to save the animals. We don’t want to pollute the environment. But we are busy, we may feel we do not have the energy to make change and don’t even know where to start, we may be focused on other things. Instead we may be hyper focused on our self, our own suffering and missing the bigger picture. That we are connected to all life forms and if they suffer, we suffer. Of course there is other issues, traumas, unhealthy belief systems, suppressed emotions within us that are contributing to our unhappiness but I am focused on our lack of connection with nature and living beings.
I am still sitting with this thought, and it will evolve and shift as I discover and cleanse my own perceptions. But what now feels to be true to me is that we are severely disconnected and as a human society in need of connection. Connection to self, to family and friends, to community, and to nature. Coming back to being protectors, guardians of the Mother Earth and living in accordance with fostering life. Choosing actions that create life and protect it rather than diminish it. Buying less things to fill our emptiness and instead connecting with living beings that brings us joy (be it people, animals, trees, flowers etc). Bringing in more of the sacred into our lives, and reconnecting to the little, simple things that make us human (complexity creates stress). I think we will find more peace then. Perhaps we won’t be as worried about the future, because we are doing what we want to see happen in the whole world.
If every person makes that change, to be more in connection with nature and living beings, to protect and help life, then we all change and the world changes. I wonder then if the hopelessness with diminish if not totally disappear?
What emotions and feelings came up as you read this? Anger, sadness, despair, worry, hope, interest, excitement? Be curious, explore it. What do you think and feel?
©Thalita Forray 2019
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