Our Increasing Disconnection

From Nature

For many indigenous peoples, and several systems of thought, this world is a living being endowed with a soul, consciousness and intelligence.  It is a single visible living entity containing all other, interconnected, living entities. For many industrialised nations, our predominant thought system has removed the soul, consciousness and intelligence from most of nature rendering is psychologically dead and disconnected. We no longer feel nature’s pain, allowing our society to exploit its resources.

From Each Other

There is a rising trend in an unhealthy type of self-esteem, called ‘threatened egotism’, which makes us vulnerable  social comparisons.  We now increasingly compete for social dominance.  This is creating an individualistic and competitive society, which is driving out our sense of belonging to a community.

From Ourselves

As individualistic competition increases, our work and neighbourhoods become more depersonalised. The stress of competing to be seen as successful leads to the meaning and purpose in our lives draining away.  As this happens we increasing become an empty shell of ego and image, which needs to be maintained and defended.