Peter Finch in Network
Years ago, in the early 1970s, I read a book called Future Shock by Alvin Toffler. The book's premise was that while change was positive for humanity, the rapid acceleration of technological changes created an assault on the human psyche. The result would be psychological and social stress, where people could start to feel dehumanized. Today, we are amid future shock on steroids.
Changes are happening at such an alarming rate; it is hard to keep up and to process the upheaval in so many areas:
Many consider the white race as a racist, privileged group.
Critical race theory says that even white babies are born racist.
Gender is not biological; it's how you feel.
Transgender males are competing with women in female sports.
China is rapidly usurping the power of America.
Countries like Australia are at the mercy of China's domination.
Christianity is under constant attack.
Covid has created a culture of lockdowns.
Many see mask-wearing as a virtue.
Vaccine passports are in the works; no passport, no entry.
The earth only has nine years left due to climate change.
You can't tell a baby's gender at birth––according to CNN.
These are just a few of the rapidly evolving and what many would call insane changes taking place. Now, there are three ways to deal with this. You could, as actor Peter Finch did in the movie, Network, scream, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore." Perhaps this would only be a temporary release of intense emotions.
You could decide to be a hermit, move out to the outback with no internet, and live off the land. For most people, this is probably not a viable choice. Another alternative is to re-focus your mind on what is truly important in your life. In other words, assess what is most important concerning your values.
Right now, forces are challenging our societal values as never before. We see the erosion, and in some cases, the total breakdown of traditional values that have served us so well for generations. What we cherished growing up is no longer taught in schools to our children and grandchildren. So we have a tough hill to climb.
Keeping your sanity means reconnecting with what are your highest priority values. At the same time, it may mean ditching those activities that no longer serve you.
In the last year, I have detached myself from social media. I no longer have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Parler. There are just too many vile and inappropriate comments on these sites. While the promise of social media initially was laudable, now censorship is often just a click away.
Be selective in what you watch on television. There is so much bias on mainstream channels with a noticeable lack of critical thinking. I prefer to choose to listen to those who use logic and critical thinking when espousing a worldview.
If you haven't done so before, write down what you value. Covid or no Covid, what is of utmost importance to you? Is exercise important? Can you set some goals in this area of your life? In my case, I joined a gym four months ago and set myself some goals. I have already exceeded those and have set new ones. I not only feel physically better, but mentally, I have greater clarity.
Have you felt some kinship to a particular religion, or do you know that connecting with your spiritual self enhances your life? Going to a religious institution and using prayer helps people to achieve greater inner peace. For others, even just meditating can achieve similar results.
With travel restricted these days, why not travel within your state. Often we go far afield when there are interesting sights to experience closer to home.
We all have things we fantasize about doing. Well, don't just dream; turn those dreams into reality. Did you want to learn a new language, learn to play an instrument or take up dancing? During the Covid pandemic, one of our daughters decided to take up ballet, and she loves it.
Don't let the crazy times dictate your life; go beyond yourself and find those experiences that will give you fulfilment.
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