Now is the time for each of us to find purpose and direction. The world is convulsing in agony and terror, and every one of us is needed to contribute some heroism to the drama of aspiring humanity.
Are you looking for your part, your role, in this great drama? Can you do more to help yourself and all of us? The discovery of our true nature is our evolutionary path and collective destiny. You can become a hero in the drama of your life by uncovering your true nature and by helping others to discover theirs.
According to the classic definition, heroes are people who strive by way of an “inner journey” to overcome their pain, suffering, and weaknesses. In psychological terms, heroes venture into their psyche to confront both the chaos and the wonder of this inner landscape. They come back from their inner adventure with a wise and gentle humility—but also with the Golden Fleece of their true nature, which bestows upon them the power and the willingness to serve the common good.
Our world desperately needs strong, wise people. The mental health of populations appears to be receding. An article in the current issue of Scientific American Mind reports that mental health in the United States appears to have declined in the past 20 years, even though more people are now getting treatment and taking medications. The best psychiatrists are standing by helplessly. “Finding novel treatments for mental illness has become so discouraging, the article says, “that several pharmaceutical companies have shut down or reduced neuroscience research.”
Declining mental health is regressive, and it leads us into greater chaos and self-damage. As goes our mental health, so goes democracy. [Read more…]