The modern world offers many advantages, but prosperity does not guarantee happiness. As the world moves toward more advanced technology and greater upward economic mobility, sadly, the rates of depression move upward, too. Even if not depressed, many people struggle with self-esteem and stress-induced overwhelm. I believe this can be remedied through a simple change of perspective from human to
earth-centric.
Most people living in modern societies derive their sense of worth from the community around them. First, they belong to a family that ideally gives them a sense of belonging and value. Then, after they grow up, they seek recognition from the world beyond their family. Maybe they feel good about the college they got into or the friends they socialize with. Then, they accomplish successes of various kinds, perhaps starting a family of their own or getting a good-paying job, and they gather all the symbols of success—a lovely house, an expensive car, designer clothing, and so on.
The only problem is that all these outward signs of success are ultimately unsatisfactory. For many of us, these ways of defining ourselves do not come easily. Our hierarchical society only lets a few people get the best jobs or get into the best colleges, leaving many people feeling inadequate compared to others. Even our families fail us sometimes, leaving us with
emotional scars. And those who do make it to the highest ranks of society find they are still empty inside, so we hear countless stories of famous people who die of drug overdoses and even suicide.
The Solution Is Switching Our Mindset
By
switching our mindset from a focus on humanity to the Earth, however, we rise above the pressures of human society, which tends to emphasize material pursuit and fame. Suppose you can begin to see yourself as part of the great system of the natural world instead of defining yourself according to what other humans think. In that case, you can begin to escape the pettiness of a materialistic society. As one of the many wondrous creatures on the planet, you can take joy in the gift of life brought to you through Earth.
In this larger scheme of things, wealth, fame, and beauty mean little since the blessings of the natural world are readily apparent—the blue sky, the colorful flowers, the air you breathe, and the beat of your heart. Wealth and social status are nice, but they are not true blessings. The precious life given to you and supported by
Mother Earth is the real gift you were given, and you should not ever lose sight of that, even when life gets tough. Forgetting this truth has disconnected us from our own hearts and from the Earth herself, leading to a lifestyle incompatible with the planet.
True self-esteem is about knowing who you really are, not defining yourself according to others’ judgments and agendas. This is the key to eliminating negative self-talk, and it’s the key to saving the Earth since we now must learn to live in harmony with her. Doing so will also help us live in
better harmony with ourselves, as well as with nature and other humans, too.