Protect your head space
When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten and the last stream poisoned, you will realise you can't eat money
- Alanis Obomsawin
Parts of our human-made environment are harmful. The drive for material profit is taking us in a bad direction. We are surrounded by influences that effect our health, happiness and relationships.
Are we going to find ways of pulling together to care for the whole human race and the planet? There are ordinary ways in which we can play a part. They come to hand every day but we need to be at our best to see them and use them. If we want to be effective in the world we need to protect our health.
Some of the influences on us are ancient, like war and oppression. Modern ones, like social media and advertising, are carefully designed using the latest tech. Cumulatively, they can corrode our view of what it is to be a human being.
However, media influences can only get to us through our appetites. It doesn’t matter how clever the influences are, we are the gate-keepers of our appetites. Knowing this, we can mitigate some of the corrosive influences. Not knowing this, we are in danger of being led.
Here’s some ways you can defend yourself -
Values
Work out some clarity about your values. Realise what is dear to you. Then find ways to embody your values in how you act every day. No need to preach the values. As you find ways of putting them into practice your optimism will improve: that’s helpful in itself.
Community
Spend your time with people who share your values and put them into practice in ways you respect. There’s networks of people doing good things and living optimistic lifestyles. You’ll need to seek them out because their presence doesn’t make it through the algorithms.
Limit contact
Control the toxic messaging that wants access to your mind. Use the Off button. What is toxic for you will change so take care of your current sensitivity and vulnerability.
How appetites work
Appetites are genetically programmed to help a species survive scarcity. “Grab basic nutrition and anything that feels good, be alert to threat, do it now.” Your appetites are super powerful and they are always switched on. They don’t have an off button of their own, but there is an off button in another, more recently evolved part of the brain. Keep a close eye on the appetites: you don’t have to do what they say.