Depression is the new "normal." Being split within ourselves, that is, being disconnected from our "true nature," or "God," or closeness with other people, affect just about everyone of us. Children, in their innocence and open-mindedness and non-judgmental spirit are generally free of depression, though it is most infectious and contagious and can be transmitted by parents, peers, and society at an early age. Teens begin to be affected once their childhood faith in life and themselves begins to fade, though some "hold on" for a time through their inherent enthusiasm and positive energy. Once they realize they are bound to a life of repitition, they resign themselves. Lives of resignation, which most people live, the same thing day in and day out, grinds us down. We respond in different ways. We seek escape in different ways. Some may addict themselves to mind-altering drugs to self-medicate. Some dedicate themselves to the cult of the body in which they exercise or even do extreme sports until the adrenalin rush takes them away. Sex too brings escape from the pain of being. Some "find God," which enables them to have a feeling of being "saved" and of "belonging," both of which bring a comfort and a sense of safety, especially if they engage in the "good work" of helping others. Some try to "understand" the "truth of it all," becoming "philosophical" and retreating from society's "falseness." Some attempt to express their experience of existence, usually exhibiting the split they see within themselves and society at large, through "art," which comes in many forms: visual, auditory, literature, physical movement. Some join groups which offer, like religion, a sense of belonging and self-expression and acceptance, which cover the spectrum from the military with its strong ethos and mythos to small book discussion groups. Some move close to the earth and find succor in working with and being in nature, which brings them "healing and peace." There are multitudes of manners of escape from the hardship of being alone in the world. We may mix them and find many ways of escape, but they only work to a certain extent, for we often find ourselves once again right here facing ourselves in these bodies in this world.
What matters is how we see it and how we therefore interpret it to ourselves. What does the world mean to us? What do our lives mean to us? Who are we? What are we? What are we doing here? To understand this in some manner makes all the difference in how we live our lives, in how we are able to live with ourselves and with others. However, when one seeks to "understand it all," one may come to the realization that there is, in fact, no such thing. However, at the same time, we realize that it is in our nature to "seek understanding," to "make sense" of what is happening so that we can live in some kind of safety in a most confusing world in which we may often feel quite alone. So we become able to "see the forest" without ever noticing the trees, or "see the trees" without ever noticing the forest. As already noted, we each have our own particular modes of escape from the physical reality of being in the body in the world. If we cannot "understand" life or ourselves, is it possible to accept this and simply "make peace" with ourselves as we are and with life as it is? Some would say "yes," but then we are faced with the questions: What is "ourselves as we are"? How "are" we? And just what is "life as it is"? We often say in exasperation, "It is as it is," as if "it" were external to us, as if "it" were happening to us and that we have nothing to do with it. We do not allow ourselves to realize that we are part and parcel of "it is as it is," that we actually have a say in it and are part of both the cause and effect of "it." Now, if we can even see that, suddenly our inherent "split" is somewhat diminished, for "we" are able to accept that "we" are both "out there" and external to ourselves and "in here" and internal within ourselves. We could go so far as to say that when we pray to God, whom we assume to be "out there" for the most part, we are also praying to ourselves. The ancient Gnostics said as much, as did Christ himself.
The fact of depression of almost everyone becomes noticeable to most as they get older and their bodies begin to hurt and their health otherwise deteriorates. Most of us do not take this reality gracefully. Woody Allen said, to paraphrase: "I'm not afraid of dying; it's just getting there that bothers me." Our bodies literally break down and probably most of us break down in our personalities as well. We are no longer who we were, especially if we identify ourselves with our physical activities and endeavors. We no longer have the "energy of youth" or even of middle-age. Of course, this is not to say that we may remain quite "young at heart." Still, as we age, most of us begin to live more in the past, that is, more in our memories of our "prime" than in the present. Again, it all depends on how we see ourselves, how we identify ourselves. We naturally begin to dis-identify with our physical bodies and to identify with our more subtle, sublime, or "spiritual" aspects of being. Pain does help us to go this way. We look towards the "end" as a relief more than in fear. We become dis-illusioned, realizing that life and our lives is and has been quite illusory.
What matters is how we see it and how we therefore interpret it to ourselves. What does the world mean to us? What do our lives mean to us? Who are we? What are we? What are we doing here? To understand this in some manner makes all the difference in how we live our lives, in how we are able to live with ourselves and with others. However, when one seeks to "understand it all," one may come to the realization that there is, in fact, no such thing. However, at the same time, we realize that it is in our nature to "seek understanding," to "make sense" of what is happening so that we can live in some kind of safety in a most confusing world in which we may often feel quite alone. So we become able to "see the forest" without ever noticing the trees, or "see the trees" without ever noticing the forest. As already noted, we each have our own particular modes of escape from the physical reality of being in the body in the world. If we cannot "understand" life or ourselves, is it possible to accept this and simply "make peace" with ourselves as we are and with life as it is? Some would say "yes," but then we are faced with the questions: What is "ourselves as we are"? How "are" we? And just what is "life as it is"? We often say in exasperation, "It is as it is," as if "it" were external to us, as if "it" were happening to us and that we have nothing to do with it. We do not allow ourselves to realize that we are part and parcel of "it is as it is," that we actually have a say in it and are part of both the cause and effect of "it." Now, if we can even see that, suddenly our inherent "split" is somewhat diminished, for "we" are able to accept that "we" are both "out there" and external to ourselves and "in here" and internal within ourselves. We could go so far as to say that when we pray to God, whom we assume to be "out there" for the most part, we are also praying to ourselves. The ancient Gnostics said as much, as did Christ himself.
The fact of depression of almost everyone becomes noticeable to most as they get older and their bodies begin to hurt and their health otherwise deteriorates. Most of us do not take this reality gracefully. Woody Allen said, to paraphrase: "I'm not afraid of dying; it's just getting there that bothers me." Our bodies literally break down and probably most of us break down in our personalities as well. We are no longer who we were, especially if we identify ourselves with our physical activities and endeavors. We no longer have the "energy of youth" or even of middle-age. Of course, this is not to say that we may remain quite "young at heart." Still, as we age, most of us begin to live more in the past, that is, more in our memories of our "prime" than in the present. Again, it all depends on how we see ourselves, how we identify ourselves. We naturally begin to dis-identify with our physical bodies and to identify with our more subtle, sublime, or "spiritual" aspects of being. Pain does help us to go this way. We look towards the "end" as a relief more than in fear. We become dis-illusioned, realizing that life and our lives is and has been quite illusory.
