Phantasm and illusion are the misapprehensions of life. Reality of life is something very different from all these. In the present scenario, we need to come out of this mirage and frame an existential life. All the human experiences such as anxiety, alienation and depression imply the presence of mental illness in every individual. But the existential psychotherapy sees these experiences as natural stages in a normal process of human development and maturation. In facilitating this process of development and maturation, existentialism involves a philosophical exploration of an individual’s experiences stressing the individual’s freedom and responsibility to facilitate a higher degree of meaning and wellbeing in one’s life.
No matter what happens around the world or in our individual lives, there is always a look for a place of stability. Searching for a purpose or wondering if anything in life really matters or even if they matter, people seek out a sense of identity, an inner knowledge of who they are. There are a few who hunt for a relationship with God, or a deepening sense of spiritual connection in whatever forms that might take. Many search for connection with other human beings, whether that is friendship, deepened intimacy or someone with whom to grow old with. And a few are those who are searching for a way out -- a way out of pain in all its forms, a way out of disappointment, regret, shame, anger, sadness, loss, anxiety and fear, and at times in the mundane too.
There is exploration for other things that are really nothing at all, like the requirement of ample time, more relaxation and more confidence, less stimulation, more beauty, more happiness, information, knowledge or skills. Maybe peace of mind isn’t something we have or we need to find, but something we do nurture and cultivate in ourselves. Maybe, it’s right under our nose.
Living our lives in alignment with what truly matters to us isn’t about searching, trying to be something other than we are. It is living with ourselves, our histories, and going forward to create a life worthy of our time on this planet. That kind of peace is durable.
We end each day with the news that the stock market is tumbling. The number of corona virus cases is increasing.
The reach of the virus is widening. And it’s creating a kind of preemptive hysteria. The root of these thoughts is that they are “negativity bias” of the brain. It’s an evolutionary trait that served us well while living on the savannah thousands of years ago.
Fear sparks a deep desire to be in control. Inner peace comes not from control, but from letting go of the illusion. There is a direct correlation between the intensity of our resistance to this reality and the amount of suffering that we are experiencing.
In this regard, it’s very obvious to remain confused and automatically the stress moves on searching for a point of releasing the depth of anguish in the form of a trust with something that can purify the stress and can add calmness to mind; or else severe anxiety and stress can result in a complete meltdown. This response can cause long-term damage to our health and lower the ability to perform optimally.
At a point, certain degree of mental and emotional detachment is very much essential to start focusing about the peace of mind. To accept what cannot be changed, can bring back a sense of happiness and freedom. Inner peace eventually leads to external peace. By creating peace in one’s inner world and own life, the same inner peace can be easily shared to the external world and to other people’s lives.
When one is composed, sufficiently practiced and self-assured, one is poised for success. A coping strategy needs to be developed where both our mind and heart need to develop the adjustments for a social connectivity. The time is knocking where we need to end the dilemma that we should not lose ourselves in the labyrinth of the little streets.
(Dr Das is an author who writes columns on gender-based and social issues. She is a PG English teacher by profession and can be mailed at Subhashree.das1201@gmail.com)
