What I’ve discovered about life that helps me make sense of
the World.
1.
THINKING. We are not our thoughts. Though every
moment of the day we have thoughts but we are not our thoughts despite what
they might say, especially if life events have led us to be anxious or
depressed. You see thoughts emanate from the problem solving, rational brain.
It’s just doing its job in trying to keep us safe, so it is always problem
solving, trying to find solutions, often trying to control life events. This is
fine if there are solutions but often with life events there aren’t immediate
solutions but that won’t stop that thinking brain from trying to figure it out,
even at 2am in the morning when you’re trying sleep! So don’t believe
everything your thinking brain is trying to say. It’s just doing its job. Hold
on lightly to your thoughts.
2.
AWARENESS. Develop awareness. Often we are
tightly attached to our thoughts. But there is another side of our
consciousness that can ‘notice’ or be ‘aware’ of what is going on. That side of
us can hold on less tightly to our thoughts which is especially good if those
thoughts are worrying, stressful, anxious thoughts. Any negative emotion you
might feel attached to those thoughts is your body trying to keep you safe,
trying to figure things out. We can develop this awareness, noticing side of
ourselves through processes such as ‘mindfulness’ which really is just having
the ability to come back to the present moment and step out of those future
based or past regrets, worrying thoughts. It’s a great place to be, here in the
present moment!
3.
LEFT BRAIN RIGHT BRAIN. There is the theory that
the left side of our brain is typically associated with analytical, logical,
and detail-focused tasks, like language, categorization, and sequential
thinking. It sees parts rather than wholes. The right hemisphere, by contrast,
is holistic, relational, and context-oriented, helping us understand meaning,
connect with others, and appreciate the "big picture." It perceives
patterns and emotional nuances, fostering empathy and creativity. In essence,
the left hemisphere focuses on precision and order, while the right hemisphere
allows for broader, interconnected understanding. It’s argued that we live, in
Westernised countries, with a strong focus on using the left brain – problem
solving, analytical, reducing things down to smaller parts. This is very
different to the right brain which is more holistic focused so it looks at the
big picture, relationships, compassion, empathy. If we could learn to tap into
the right brain more there would be less focus on achievement, more is better,
perfectionism, striving – a lot of things associated with supposed success in a
capitalist World. We are seeing the results of this – more stress, anxiety,
less community, less compassion. It is said the right brain should be the
master and left brain the servant. But it seems the opposite in capitalist
countries. So get out of your left brain and get into nature more, develop
compassion, community, serve others. Get a different perspective on life. More
of a life balance. It might just save the World!
4.
ABSURDISM. The World really is Absurd. Good
things happen to bad people, bad things happen to good people. Don’t try to
work out. Instead put your energy into being present, and being of service to
others. Have gratitude for right here, right now, no matter what is happening for
you. Argue with a lamp post!
5.
EVOLUTION. Our problem solving brain and body
reactions (fight, flight, freeze) have been designed to help us survive. The
‘fight, flight, freeze’ response kicks in automatically when we sense danger.
It gets us ready to run or fight or play dead if we sense danger. If we had to
rely on our rational brain to figure out if there was a real a danger, it might
be too late! The things is, in the Western world physical dangers are less (as
a generalisation), so the Sabre Tooth Tiger has been replaced by work place
stress, financial pressures etc. It’s as though our body reacting to stress has
not caught up to modern day living. So anxiety and depression symptoms are the body’s
way of responding to danger. The problem solving brain kicks in and constantly
tries to fix, solve or control the danger but often there isn’t an immediate
solution to the perceived danger (a job loss, financial stress etc). But it
doesn’t give up. It often will constantly try to ‘fix’ things to keep us safe. So
feel free to thank your brain. It’s just doing what is what designed to do.
Hold on lightly to those worries, fears, stress, anxieties, and depressions.
Tap into that right side of the brain more and look at life more holistically,
the bigger picture.