Self-discovery and independence
1.From the food chain to the mind chain
We often learn about the food chain in the animal kingdom.
Simply put, there are herbivores that eat plants and trees, and carnivores that hunt them.
Then the dead predators return to fertilize the plants and trees, which is the perfect balance in the natural world.
This exquisite balance in nature is so delicate that no one element can increase or decrease too much; it can be called an algorithm woven by nature.
The reality of modern human society, however, is that this food chain is out of balance.
The world population, which was about 2 billion in 1920, now exceeds 8 billion.
Forests are shrinking, and many animal species are threatened with extinction, or are actually going extinct.
Humans have deviated from the natural food chain and have become a major player in the destruction of the environment.
My point here is not about the environmental destruction issue.
The issue is the existence of a unique “food chain” in human society.
As a type of animal, when we live according to our instincts, we tend to act in ways that prey on the weak without knowing it.
For example, in communication, we often unknowingly try to dominate others. As a result, we fall into low-level conversations and deception for profit.
Such behavior leads to nothing but discord and unhappiness in society as a whole.
And, as is commonplace, the strong dominate the weak in the workplace and in society.
Bosses dominate their subordinates, large corporations oppress small businesses, and the wealthy take advantage of the poor.
Thus, everyone tries to gain as much advantage as possible in the battle for position.
A good education, a good job, a good position, these are the things that many people want in order to obtain a position like a predator at the top of the food chain. And so we unwittingly participate in the red race, striving for a higher position.
However, the growth and independence of the next generation must begin with moving away from this kind of domination and building relationships that allow us to support one another.
To this end, it is important for each of us to ask ourselves how we are involved in this “food chain” of human society.
The start of self-discovery is to understand how we relate to others and how we function as part of society.
Self-reliance does not mean simply living without depending on others.
This is because there is no such thing as complete independence in the interpretation of “living without depending on others.
Every human being is in some way under the care of others.
Independence here means to know, utilize, and develop one’s own abilities and to live under one’s own control.
In fact, this control is very important.
Are there any self-employed or freelance workers around you who are always in high spirits? Why are they always so energetic?
In contrast, have you ever seen a businessman around you who is always tired?
Do you have a colleague who looks depressed on the first Monday of the week?
And why is he or she tired?
One of the reasons is that they cannot move at their own pace.
Conversely, independent and self-employed people can operate at their own pace.
Everyone’s performance will be better if they operate at their own pace than at someone else’s pace.
Imagine that your life will be at your own pace in terms of when you go to bed and when you get up.
Perhaps many people’s energy levels would seem to increase.
We are forced by our schooling to learn to conform to others before we know our own comfortable pace.
We are taught to take it for granted.
Knowing your own comfortable pace of life can be the first step in knowing your own abilities.
Of course, it is difficult for ordinary people to live at their own pace from tomorrow, but observing oneself so that one can live at one’s own pace little by little is a good place to start.
So why don’t we explore together how we can actually discover ourselves and choose to live independently?
The first step in this process begins with a deep understanding of our own behavior and its effects.
This is the path that leads to true self-discovery.
People who live like plants and trees,
Those who live like herbivores,
People who live like carnivores,
When one lives without thinking,
If one lives without thinking, he or she will live in one of the positions on the food chain.
Discovering one’s own power is the way to free oneself from this hierarchy of bounded ways of life.
