Our place in the world

The world has become ridiculously complex. Many celebrate the fact that we live in an information age, and any kind of data is available almost instantaneously at a click of a button. I am fond of this fact as well. My curiosity can be satisfied, my learning can be accelerated, and my inspiration can be found by sifting through the abundance of sources. And the world at large is hopefully benefiting from this opportunity to connect, network, and collaborate to tackle anything from poverty to diseases.

However, many social scientists bring the other side of the coin to our attention. Our process of evolution has not prepared us to face such sudden changes of our environment, and the pressures are vast. Adaptation has been taking centuries, and in the past people had been limited to their immediate surroundings. The advantage of this limitation? They could focus on fewer problems, and tune into themselves with greater ease. They weren’t bombarded by advertisements, news from all over the world, ever-changing consumption trends, opinions and ideas.

I became drawn to anything that attempts to synthesize problems with solutions, and deliver a holistic view that grounds me in a firm belief that my sanity can be maintained, and my constant analysis will not result in grey hair by the age of thirty. A while ago I watched the freshly released “Home” – a project by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. It’s completely free to view and distribute to whomever you please. The main idea behind this model is to promote awareness and collaboration, show the beauty of our planet and make people understand the natural system. It encourages us to treat the world with integrity and appreciation; it presents the many problems with a hopeful message that we are doing amazing things to alleviate the issues and we need to simply carry on by multiplying our efforts exponentially.

I did feel inspired and in awe at first. And then I became slightly unsettled, as it usually happens when the brain is given new ideas to process. Questions about my role encircled me, like a relentless tribe desperate to get closer to a bonfire. How do I live my life? Do I pursue my many passions and interests, give into the spell that the arts and travel have over me? Or do I make a conscientious decision to work for the greater good – and if so, in what form? If I pursue the first path, I can concentrate on what I want from this world – where I want to live and what I want to be occupied with. Selfish, but it can be argued that I’ll be giving off the positive vibes that will indirectly make the world a better place. And if I listen to the persistent inner voice that urges me to think bigger, and find a way to contribute on a large scale, I may forgo those pursuits of personal development to avoid being simply a user and a neutral contributor to the issues (whoever is not part of the solution is part of the problem, right?) Of course, I hope that this line doesn’t have to be drawn so distinctly. My ideal state would be merging the two, and finding my place in the world where both can co-exist peacefully. Is that possible? Some wise thinkers have said that finding out is part of the journey.