This diary will be a think piece, pondering, philosophical musing... or, if you prefer, random meandering (I like the assonance of that one). It will not be linky, erudite, or academic, but it will be based on a foundation of many years of learning, experience, insight, and psychological exploration. I may even do a series of diaries like this.
Why am I doing this? Because. And because I think we need a little more focus here on the big, underlying issues and questions. There's not enough of a balance, IMHO, between that and the kind of reactivity that magnifies each daily occurance into a major source of attention. So, this is an attempt to take a teensy weensy bit more of a long-term perspective on the issues of the day.
Click over the fold if you agree... and if you don't.
Follow the energy. That's one of my mantras. Follow where the energy flow leads, and you will often see the root of a problem or the reason for a productive outcome.
People are generators. We generate our own energy. Physically, we take in food and other kinds of sustenance, and we convert that sustenance into the energy we need to function. If we don't have enough fuel, our level of functioning decreases and we get tired or sick. Psychologically, if we don't get enough physical fuel, we get irritable, anxious, and sometimes violent. When we are in need of energy and fearful of not being able to find it on our own, we may try to get the fuel by force or manipulation from another person, setting up a situation in which we victimize someone else because we ourselves feel like victims. We make choices out of fear rather than out of hope, and our energy is spent trying to find energy in external sources rather than trying to find it by using our own creativity and knowledge (i.e., planting a vegetable garden, hunting, etc.). This is the kind of behavior that we might associate with what used to be called barbarians--those who are uncivilized. But this type of behavior occurs in many different ways, and often in such subtle ways and with such outward restraint or politeness that we don't recognize it for what it is. That is especially true when it comes to psychological energy.
We generate our own psychological, or spiritual, energy as well as our own physical energy. We take in psychological or spiritual sustenance in the form of inspiration, hope, dreams, daring, productivity, and imagination, and we convert that sustenance into the energy we need to function in a healthy, positive direction. If we don't have enough psychological or spiritual fuel, our level of positive functioning decreases and we begin to feel needy, fearful, anxious, angry, hateful, or guilty... and, yes, sometimes violent. When we are in need of psychological or spiritual energy and feel we are unable to create it on our own, we may try to get it from others. How do we get psychological or spiritual energy from others? By using the energy we have to get it--by getting angry, manipulating, or trying to make others feel guilty or responsible for us. Again, just as with physical energy, this is setting up a situation in which we victimize someone else because we ourselves feel like victims. We make choices out of fear rather than out of hope, and our energy is spent trying to find energy in external sources rather than trying to find it by using our own creativity and skills.
And it's not just people that we turn to as external energy sources, but also drugs, alcohol, shopping, gambling, eating, and many other habits or addictions that serve that same purpose, but that also keep us from trying to find ways to create our own energy with our own dreams, abilities, and values. And, just as with physical energy, the attempt to get energy from an external source is not always obvious--especially when it has become an accepted behavior in our culture. But when we try to get energy from others instead of creating our own, we risk draining instead of enhancing our prospects for the future.
There are so many ways in which this plays out in our culture today. The energy crisis itself is a metaphor for our nation's lack of motivation to produce its own energy. But perhaps specific examples would be better left to you in the comments, or to future diaries. This is just a basic concept, and hopefully one that will provide food--and energy!--for thought.
UPDATE: I took "Vlog" out of the title at the suggestion of a commenter. I didn't want peeps to think this was a video blog!