What if there is something so fundamentally wrong with the world, the lives, and the way of being offered us, that withdrawal is the only sane response? Withdrawal, followed by a reentry into a world, a life, and a way of being wholly different from the one left behind?
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Interesting essay by Charles Eisenstein. The awareness and truism that life in the current world is unsatisfying for many, and is just plainly wrong on many levels, if you are perceptive, is a long-term, recurrent theme in human history and philosophy.
Each of us should periodically step back, contemplate the state of our being, and if found wanting, try and figure out just how and why, and most importantly, what to do about it. And then pursue whatever goals toward effecting change one sets for one's self. It's never easy, but the alternative is much worse. One may need to withdraw for a time, as Eisenstein discusses, but hopefully only for as long as it takes to recalibrate, and to begin anew the process of self-actualization.
It is up to each of us who may think things are going wrong, either in the world in general, or within our personal lives, and thus feel that our lives are unsatisfactory on some primary level, to acknowledge the facts, and not just learn how to deal with it, but hopefully change ourselves in some basic manner to improve the quality of our existance and thus lead a more fulfilling life. Only then, by helping ourselves, can we help others, which is a basic purpose of life and consciousness, imho.
This may sound obvious, but overcoming the fear of change, and doing the difficult work required to evolve ourselves in some positive direction, rather than accept the "slings and arrows" of reality as it is, is what makes all the difference, ultimately. It's what makes us truly human; to exercise and seek our actual potential, both individually and together.
No one will do it for us--it is up to each and every one of us to do what is right by ourselves as best we can. As Joseph Campbell once said, "follow your bliss," whatever that may be. Have faith in your perceptions and the ability to change yourself, at least, for the better.
The difficulty, for most, is deciding just what our individual bliss or path not only may be, but how to achieve it within the matrix of our social and cultural heritage (and the practical necessities of earning a living) while still seeking and knowing there are better alternatives and ways of living and being than we may find ourselves currently having to deal with, and can create deep conflict, yet also presents great opportunity, if one can see that. After all, nothing ventured, or risked, means little or nothing gained, in a sense.
Life is precious, and consciousness is too valuable and important to accept anything less than intentionally striving for and doing the best we can toward true self-realization. In a sense, we must try to become part of the change we wish to see. There won't be enough time to do anything less, if you expect to really live well. You have to go for it, now, or you'll look back, toward the end of your life or competence, and suffer the recriminations of coulda, woulda, shoulda.
That is the worst fate of all--not making the choices you want or must in order to commit to becoming more than you already are and can be, if you have faith in yourself and realize that life is a challenge, and that we are the primary agents of the changes necessary. That is the first step forward.
Humanity now faces many dire, self-created, near-term crises which raise the spector of species extinction--it is a time of extraordinary transition--and possible social evolution and metamorphosis. It is still, I hope, up to us which direction our future takes. Never give up. The future of intelligent life here depends upon it.
There is more good stuff, and the free ebook, The Ascent of Humanity, at Eisenstein's website:
http://www.ascentofhumanity.com/
Thanks for the referral, Mac!
Or, to put it more directly/succinctly:
Whip It
----------
Crack that whip
Give the past the slip
Step on a crack
Break your mommas back
When a problem comes along
You must whip it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must whip it
When somethings going wrong
You must whip it
Now whip it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
Its not too late
To whip it
Whip it good
When a good time turns around
You must whip it
You will never live it down
Unless you whip it
No one gets away
Until they whip it
I say whip it
Whip it good
I say whip it
Whip it good
Crack that whip
Give the past the slip
Step on a crack
Break your mommas back
When a problem comes along
You must whip it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must whip it
When somethings going wrong
You must whip it
Now whip it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
Its not too late
To whip it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
Its not too late
To whip it
Whip it good
--------------
Devo
[Freedom of Choice album, 1980]
Or as Morrissey put it ...
Hold on -- I'm drawing a blank ...
:-)
Uh... "At last I am born" ?
"...I am finally born
I once thought that time accentuates despair
But now I don't actually care
Because I am born, born, born
Look at me now..."
--Morrissey
--"Ringleader of the Tormenters" album
Intense--
Believe me, I considered it!
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