Sunday, October 18, 2009

Coping with Abundance

Millions of years of evolution have prepared humans to survive in a dangerous world of scarce resources and aggressive predators. Many human emotions form an armor that served our ancestors well by protecting them against the many deadly dangers of their ancient world. We are always wary; suspicious of dangers lurking everywhere. Our exquisitely sensitive perceptions of fear and anxiety are especially vigilant in alerting us to a wide variety of dangers: real, potential, or imagined. Fear works so quickly that we are poised to defend even before we can comprehend danger.

Our easily learned distrust and hatred of strangers—outsiders who are different and may pose a threat—developed to keep us safe from possible foes. Our quick anger protects our territory, defends against trespassers, and warns potential predators to back off. Violent and persistent revenge also serves to defend us against potential predators. Fighting ability, and other forms of power and predation, often determined who got to eat and who starved to death. Selfish greed was an essential survival skill. Social rank often determined access to mates. Our disgust of toxic substances helps us avoid inedible, poisonous, or rotten plants and animals, allowing us to forage safely for nutritious food. Danger was everywhere and we are ever vigilant in noticing it, repelling it, and attacking it.

But abundance is now beginning to displace the scarcity that characterized the world for billions of years. The world is becoming safer. Can humans, wired to survive in a dangerous world of scarce resources, ever realize the full promise of an abundant world? Can we manage a transition from a wary and selfish defensive posture to a life where we relax and share the wonderful possibilities of a safe world with abundant resources? Can we shed our armor, embrace our hope, and learn to thrive together?

Humans survived for millions of years by mastering the law of the jungle—kill or be killed. But the hopeful among us also preached and professed, in every major religion and culture, another rule, the Golden Rule—where we encourage ourselves to treat others as we wish to be treated, or better yet, as they wish to be treated.

Can humans, built for surviving scarcity, cope with this modern abundance and learn to thrive? Can we overcome the destructive powers of suspicion, fear mongering, terrorism, tyranny, greed, and vanity? Can the golden rule ever displace the rule of the jungle? Can our concept of reciprocity manage the transition from revenge to generosity? Can an eye for an eye ever become one good turn deserves another; can random acts of kindness ever become their own sufficient reward?

The golden rule is skittish and timid. Too often the law of the jungle scares off the golden rule, quickly sending it back into hiding. Shout “fire!” and the art gallery quickly empties. Set the threat level to orange and we gladly take our shoes off at the airport, distrust Muslims, buy guns, and approve additional defense spending. Brandish a gun and the high school is overcome with panic. The asymmetry is stunning, but we have the capacity for restraint, we can decide to avoid conflict. Eventually we learn to act for others instead of to others.

Can we invent a better story for ourselves where we sail into a vast universe of possibility? Can we ever orient ourselves toward abundance, learn to give up control, and enjoy the benefits of taking more risk? Can we abandon a world of winning and losing, acceptance and rejection, assessing friend or foe, strength or weakness, attack or retreat? Can we stop hoarding resources, polishing our armor, worrying about the past and future, and struggling to survive in a world of scarcity even as we create abundance? Can we all enjoy making our own contributions? Can we follow our creative passions? Can we get others to come out of their caves, take off their armor, and fully enroll themselves in important work? Can each of us apply our greatness every day by: seizing the possibilities, simple compassion, and authentic contributions?

Humans can hope, learn, grow, invent, create, and make better choices. If we decide to describe revenge, greed, hubris, vanity, fear, and righteousness as the villains—and people as the hope—we can come together to create the possibility of a better world for ourselves. We can create a world where love displaces hate, selfishness gives way to generosity and contribution, hope overcomes fear, trust replaces suspicion, arrogance matures into humility, helping becomes more rewarding than cheating and stealing, winning gives way to enjoyment and fulfillment, and compassion overcomes anger, revenge, and violence. We can enjoy the awesome beauty of nature, the warm rich comfort of healthy relationships, and peace of mind. We can all learn the art of possibility, we can all practice the Golden Rule, and we can enjoy the remarkable potential of our humanity. All our needs can be met; we can all have enough.

We survived scarcity; we can certainly learn to cope with abundance. Know when it is time to get out of the tanks and into the sports cars. Take the risk, enjoy the ride, and explore the possibilities.

References:




54 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for providing insight into our primary fears....always seeing the glass half empty instead of half full...which is part of dealing with the abundance around us. We fail to see how much we really have and always seek more security materially when we should seek the spiritual fulfillment that "should" displace the material insecurity.

Important subject matter...you're definitely onto something here.

Thank you.

Unknown said...

The Golden Alliance is now available as a resource for people who choose to live by the golden rule. See: http://www.TheGoldenAlliance.com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing the link, but unfortunately it seems to be down... Does anybody have a mirror or another source? Please reply to my post if you do!

I would appreciate if a staff member here at emotionalcompetency.blogspot.com could post it.

Thanks,
William

Unknown said...

William,
Thanks for your comment and I am sorry to hear you are having difficulties reaching the site. I checked the link http://www.TheGoldenAlliance.com and it is working, perhaps the problem is temporary, please try again.

Thanks! Lee Beaumont

Anonymous said...

To Download The RRB Result 2016 Download Here

Sachin Tendulker said...

ipl live score streaming
Real Madrid vs Barcalona
ipl live score 2012 video

ojas said...

happy mothers day heart touching poems qoutes wishes download and share for happy mothers day in fb whatsapp and insta

Unknown said...

very nice post sharing

IPL match prediction
Big Bash match prediction
todays match prediction

Happy Diwali said...

check this

black panther said...

official site
click
click
.
official site
click

Pavitra Kumar said...

Warren Buffett Quotes Stock Market Quotes
Thank you for some other wonderful post. Where else may just anybody get that type of info in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the search for such info. Mother Teresa Quotes Steve Jobs Quotes Bruce Lee Quotes

Anonymous said...

It is really worth to read your blog. well deserved Veterans day decoration ideas

Hammad said...

t10 league live streaming

Unknown said...

Interesting article! Thank you for sharing them!
I hope you will continue to have similar posts to share with everyone!
I believe a lot of people will be surprised to read this article!
gradient scarfs

Unknown said...

Interesting article! Thank you for sharing them!
I hope you will continue to have similar posts to share with everyone!
I believe a lot of people will be surprised to read this article!
gradient scarfs

Unknown said...

Interesting article! Thank you for sharing them!
I hope you will continue to have similar posts to share with everyone!
I believe a lot of people will be surprised to read this article!
gradient scarfs

Unknown said...

Interesting article! Thank you for sharing them!
I hope you will continue to have similar posts to share with everyone!
I believe a lot of people will be surprised to read this article!
gradient scarfs

Dosti shayari said...

Happy New Year Quotes in Hindi

prakash gohel said...

Thanks For sharing such an amazing article, I really love to read your content regularly.Amazing!!! I like this

website so much it’s really awesome. I have also gone through your other posts too and they are also very much

appreciates able and I’m just waiting for your next update.walt disney quotes Thank you again for this post..

Harsh008 said...

I think the admin of this web site is in fact working hard for his site, since here every material is quality based information.

Happy Easter Images 2019
Happy Easter Background 2019
Happy Easter Clip Arts 2019
Happy Easter Coloring Pages 2019
Happy Easter Quotes 2019

prakash gohel said...

Thank you for this great article i read your post its really helpfull more me.
Attitude Status In Hindi || attitude fb status || I hope you will have more great articles to share with readers, thank you the post.Great post! attitude hindi status || attitude status || This is really a great article and great read for me. Its my first visit to your blog and i have found it so useful and informative specially this article. attitude status for girls || Hindi Attitude StatusThis is amazing and wonderful article. I am really impressed and must say this is an interesting article.

veerendar said...

I was more than happy to uncover this great site. I need to to thank you for your time due to this fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it and I have you bookmarked to see new information on your blog.
Parakamani Seva
Tneb online
aravinda sametha songs lyrics

Asfand said...

Nice one.
Check Out these amazing Home Decors

reena said...

Amazing nice work. This is very useful article. Thank you. For more

Estack Overflow said...

chick here to see

see more

visit here

go to website

check website

click here to visit

website

check review

check here

click here

Shah Baazkhan said...

downlod dp collection

best dp collection

downlod more collection

read more collection

best collection

Viraj said...

It is very useful information. Thank you. For more information related to this Click here

davidk said...

It is really worth to read your blog. well deserved
Euro T20 Slam League Stadiums
Euro T20 Slam Broadcasting
Latest Euro T20 Slam News 2019

The Big Bash League said...

BBL 2019-2020 Schedule

Constant Daikon said...

Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article! It is the little changes that will make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Do check out Big Bash League Tickets

Media said...

Hello, Thanks For Sharing this Awesome Information With Us, Keep Posting!!

Mehfil e Shayari.

Anonymous said...

coctool.com 2019 How these online generators works
coc online generator

IPL 2020 said...

IPL Smartcric
IPL Mobilecric
IPL CricHD
IPL Webcric
IPL Shedule 2020
IPL Wtchcric
IPL Live Cricket Streaming

Cricky said...

Thanks for sharing this .. Please check out these links that is related to the psl 2020 schedule, updates, news and more.
More About the pakistan super league there is enough information you can find all the team squad their players names and the captains of every PSL 2020 teams.

Psl schedule 2020 pdf
Psl 2020 schedule pdf
Psl schedule 2020
Psl 2020 schedule
Psl 2020 live streaming
Psl live streaming 2020
Crichd live
psl schedule 2020 venue
psl schedule 2020 squad
psl schedule 2020 time table
psl schedule 2020 download

Succedict said...

will power quotes
quotes on ignorance
quotes on consciousness
self discovery quotes
quotes on talent

Kashyap said...

New Song Lyrics 2020
Lyrics Transslation
Visit new song Hard Work Lyrics R Nait

YDS said...

Name change agent in rajasthan

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this piece of information, we regard this highly.

Anonymous said...

I simply couldn't go away your website prior to suggesting that I really loved the usual info an individual provide to your guests? Is going to be again regularly to check out new posts Follow my site when you have free time สล็อ

Unknown said...

Norton Server Error

Unknown said...

https://utahwildlife.net/forum/members/66319-james9909.html

Anonymous said...

I am amazed at how interesting the article you posted. I am fond of this Pelle Pelle Jacket. Keep uploading more nice articles.

Yakshita said...

I hope to see more post from you. Thank you for sharing this post. Your blog posts are more interesting and impressive

KCR Kit Scheme 2021, Registration/Apply, Payment Status, Apply@kcrkit.telangana Portal, kcrkit, kcrkit.telangana.gov.in

Alex Rod said...

Excellent job, I read your whole article. This is really useful information. the points you described above are very helpful for everyone. I appreciate your work and knowledge. I will recommend this blog to others, more people will get the information and help. For the best quality information and quick updates, I use a lyrics woow guide. It is also helpful for me Thanks!

Unknown said...

Super Star is Best Leather Jacket Site
https://superstarjackets.com/

Unknown said...

Linda Kelsey
This Jacket Has Soo Good..
https://superstarjackets.com/product/mens-dark-rider-motorcycle-racer-distressed-leather-jacket/

Unknown said...

I was looking for a good quality leather jacket
https://www.leatherjacketsdirect.co.uk/

Unknown said...

Shea Orth
The Best Leather Jacket Site
https://www.leatherjacketsdirect.co.uk/

Bipard said...

I hope to see more post from you. Thank you for sharing this post. Your blog posts are more interesting and impressive

Intra Haryana, Intra Haryana Login, E Salary Slip, intra haryana.gov.in login - Department Login

Unknown said...

We are providing the best waist trainers for fat lose from tummy and back fat to get dream body shape for different occasions. Waist trainers are readily aimed at showing off your body curves in the right places and also. Control the lower body fat
These items can customize your overall body and hide your extra fat to look attractive. The Majority are using the waist trainer for lose belly fat well and you can stay active without leaving the house.

Yakshita said...

Thank you for posting such a great article! It contains wonderful and helpful posts. Keep up the good work

ECHS 64KB Card Status | Online ECHS Card Status Check

Kissasian said...

Watch and download Korean drama, drama cool, fastdrama and other KissAsian dramas with english sub online free

Mike Rooney said...

I am finding everywhere.

William Zabka Cobra Kai Hoodie

Rebecca jones said...

It is really worth to read your blog.
Philadelphia Eagles Satin Varsity Jacket