How to avoid a crisis of hope and not despair

Compared to previous centuries, today we live in the full material well-being and comfort. At the same time, oddly enough, the growing number of suicides and illness of depression, a sense of hopelessness and meaninglessness of existence. This phenomenon is called progress paradox: the more comfort and well-being, the more felt despair and anxiety.

Please find the main ideas of the "Book of Hope", in which the writer and popular blogger Mark Manson tells us why man needs hope, and how not to get influenced by its false version.

Hope can be dangerous

Hope inspires not only the noble heroes, but also the genocides, and totalitarian modes. Hitler hoped to destroy all the Jews to finally appeared to flourish "superior" Aryan race. Communists came to power in Russia, hoping sooner or later make the world revolution to the whole world adopted the ideas of Marxism and lived in equality and fraternity. Atrocities committed by capitalist society, fueled by the hope that everything is done for the sake of economic freedom and wealth.

Manson cites Nietzsche, who believed that people should look beyond hope, beyond values, to see something beyond good and evil.

Man of the future must love his fate, whatever it was, - he called this love amor fati ( «the love of his destiny" in Latin).

We must learn to act without hope, accept yourself as you are to eventually become better. Hope calms and soothes us, like a drug, and therefore we write the history, values, myths and legends about themselves and the world around them, not to live in fear of the inevitability of death. But it still comes, no one will escape it. Realize and accept it without fear, people do not run to do evil - perhaps they will learn to respect each other and to our planet.

The world can be improved only by improving ourselves and becoming mature

The modern world, according to Manson, is full of children's self-interest: we seek what we pleased, and discard what does not like. If this does not work, we react like naughty little children.

No one likes to be friends with selfishNo one wants to work with him or join another kind of social interaction, because it does not comply with the rules and indifferent to the feelings of others.

Manson tells the Kantian imperative. Kant believed that because the only people in the universe is endowed with consciousness, his chief moral obligation - to take care of this consciousness, develop it, always put first.

With regard to the behavior of the philosopher calls to look at other than as a means to an end, but as the goal itself.

When a person lies to others, he leads them astray, to achieve its goal. When he cheats, he does the same - violates the expectations of other sentient beings to achieve their goals. Honesty is good in itself, because it does not consider people as a tool, and as good humility and courage.

Kant called this moral imperative formula of humanity, and this formula is not based on the hope she do without her.

It does not offer a future utopia, no one praises and does not degrade. No one is better or worse than others, and this understanding comes along with this maturity.

The only logical way to improve the world, according to Kant - is to improve yourself. Treat yourself and other as an end, not as a means to be honest, brave and not skid. Be honest with yourself, and you will be honest with others. So it is possible to change the world - not through ideology, religion or dream about the future, through the achievement of maturity in the present, here and now.

The pain - an integral part of our lives

First, we believe that full of happiness lacks a good job. Then this is not enough, and we long for a new home. When we had enough of the house, we want to take a trip, a vacation to the warm seas. And in this journey so we can grieve the absence of a cocktail or other details, that our happiness level drops, despite the fact that a recent dream about vacation has just come true.

The pain is always accompanied human life. And if suddenly it lacks, distorted perceptions and expectations to obtain the missing amount from any trifle. Once our life is improved in accordance with the dreamOur expectations change, and so we again feel a slight disappointment.

Whatever happy, secure and comfortable our life is, sooner or later we will still begin to feel dissatisfaction. Whatever terrible misfortune or experienced people, they are becoming more unhappy with each passing day and soon feel the same way as those to whom nothing bad happened.

Manson said that regardless of our achievements and the level of life, we quickly adapt to their expectations, to maintain a sense of dissatisfaction. It helps to take a new hope, a new religion or a new conflict.

We see the threats, insults or suffering, where there are none. Therefore, the pursuit of perfect happiness can never be completed. Moreover - this phenomenon is dangerous and destructive. Live well - not to avoid suffering, it means to suffer for really good reasons. When we experience real pain, the mind starts working in full force to eliminate the chaos and confusion that led to it. He appreciates what has happened, and predicts the consequences of learning takes place on the basis of this painful experience. When we avoid pain and stress, chaos and disorder, we are fragile and unstable, very sensitive to the slightest discomfort.

Drop stupid and selfish hope and not despair

Manson advises not to hope for the best, and to be that the best. Do not rely on their knowledge, because we only think that we have some knowledge of. He advises to constantly improve themselves. To be more persistent, compassionate, humble and disciplined.

He advises everyone to become a better person than it is now, always treat others as ends and not as a means. We must cherish our consciousness and keep it clear, do not sacrifice it to any religion, no matter how attractive it may seem.

Manson believes that someday people will not make a tragedy out of every little detail and considered traumatized enough delicious lunch in the cafe. They boldly enter into the discomfort zone, knowing that he will make them grow. Manson believes that someday, instead of endless pursuit of a variety of treats people remember their commitment. They learn self-restraint, learn to demand something better of yourself before you ask it from the outside world.

Material prepared by the service key ideas from the literature best-selling business and self-development MakeRight.ru.

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