Through the course of history as well as my four plus decades of life and especially the last few years, there has seemed to be a lot to fight against.
Whether it was fighting against government overreach, or the outrage of the masses, or the injustices done to the vulnerable, or the manipulation perpetrated by social media platforms, or the fear mongering of the legacy media, or, or, or… The list goes on and on.
I would say that there is always something appearing as a monster to fend off in our world. Perhaps, this is inevitable, and we must always be on guard against these demons.
Some of us want to fight off the seemingly selfishness of hyper-individuality as we see people demand their way in the face of the greater good. On the other hand, some of us want to fight off the seemingly uncaring coercive tsunami of the government-provoked masses to conform and comply with the herd.
These seems like opposites, unable to bridge their gaps.
Perhaps the issue stems from a focus on the fight, on pitting oneself against something else. As long as we have our vision squared on the ‘enemy’ and our struggle with this figure, or force, or ideal, we are in conflict. Our energy is used for resistance.
We are pushing a boulder up a hill, constantly. We are like Sisyphus and perhaps we are in a hell of our own making.
Would it not be better to fight for something rather than against it?
Would it not be even better to work for something or build towards something or create with the vision of something?
Would our energies tied up in the pursuit of that which we prize and hold dear not be more sustainable and life enhancing than if we focused it against that which frustrates us, or worse, that which we loathe?
For example, we can be working towards freedom instead of against restrictions. We could be working towards cooperation instead of against conformity.
This might even look the same from an external viewpoint but I think the energy and sensation of this work would likely feel significantly different. It would more probably nourish and motivate than deplete and exhaust.
Can we live a good life, a happy life, a fulfilling life, a long and healthy life if our gaze is constantly on that which we don’t want?
This is easier said than done, especially when injustice and evil is so pervasive in the world we live. However, there must be at least as much (likely more) beauty and love as there are ugliness and hatred on this planet.
“We don’t know where we’re going, we don’t know what’s going to happen, but no one can take away from you what you put in your own mind.”
― Edith Eger, The Choice: Embrace the Possible
Can it be as simple as a reframing?
Can this bridge the gap between fighters? Is there not more commonality in what we desire than what we resist?
The old adage, what you resist, persists comes to mind. Must say I’m feeling “depleted & exhausted” following our midterm elections yesterday. Overwhelmed with thoughts of stepping away from the fight for the sake of my own mental health, but you’ve given me a new perspective. Time to focus on our common ground and quit trying to push that boulder up the hill.
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