I tend to think that the more chaotic things get, the clearer what really matters becomes. However, I’m not currently finding that to be the case.
In trying to become more aware of current events and topics that affect our region/country/world/planet, I’m finding a lot of alarming, discomforting and questionable information… which is not only hard to sort through, but is making it difficult to get back to what matters most.
Priorities
So what does matter most? Does it vary from one person to another? Can our differing priorities co-exist? What happens when we begin to question what used to matter most?
Things have certainly changed and we all feel it in some way. But do we have any control over what happens next? Usually I would say, ‘Yes, we all create our future.’ Listening to the paranoia and anger that’s out there, however, makes me less confident about that future.
Protection, Safety & Wellbeing
On one hand, watching shows such as ‘Doomsday Preppers’ can provide some handy insights into survival skills. On the other hand, considering all the threats that could possibly be out there – and figuring out which ones pose the greatest threat to you – can make us paranoid and lose touch with the reality of our current lives. As well, too much ‘every man for himself’ thinking can cause us to mistrust our fellow man and utilize that skepticism to de-humanize others.
Community
In difficult times, are we banding together or building walls around our personal comfort? Are our differing beliefs creating discord and widening chasms between us? Should we be preparing for catastrophes related to the economy, climate change, national security, the “zombie nation” or others in scope? Should we be worrying about our distant future (retirement) or our nearer future (livelihood, safety, health)?
Information
What’s too much information, what’s just enough, what’s the correct information and what are the best ways to find it? The jury’s still out on this one. Access to information is greater than ever… but weeding through it all is becoming increasingly challenging.
Just don’t believe everything you see, hear or read. Definitely don’t believe everything you think. And watch out for public forum traps – arguing with others on comment threads or online outlets like Facebook. People are passionate, and while that can be a good thing, it’s often counter-productive when it becomes more of a knee-jerk reaction. Blaming each other for all of our problems is not going to get us anywhere good. Anger and fear, unless harnessed and utilized productively, could become our worst enemy of all. But then again, it probably has been all along.