Now, that the hype of the festive season has faded off and left our brain and body cells ‘silently stressed’, we return to the bizarre ‘21st century normality’ of cut-throat competition at work, school, and even during our recreational and social activities, in the quest for status and wealth beyond reason. Reality TV shows have become little more than moral and ethical murder, promoting dirty, undermining and backstabbing tactics. We (society) live life on the edge, in fear of being sued, saying or doing the wrong thing, or making unpopular politically incorrect comments. An unhealthy stress generating urgency, is widely promoted through ‘high speed reading and learning’. We are no longer left to focus on anything on screen let alone to finish reading some text without the distraction of pop-up’s, often calling for an urgent, hurried response. No wonder anxiety and depression has reached epidemic proportions, even in children. In response I am glad to say that mental health awareness has greatly improved in recent years, though attention is mainly focused on treatment not prevention.
It helps to cultivate some balance, to pause and open an ‘Empty Page’, which is the most important component of both my books and of life supreme. Blessed be the day when businesses, the authorities and media promote the ‘Empty Page’ rather than hype and sensation.
For more on the prevention of mental agony, known as burn-out, download now and read ‘Journey of Life’, chapters 3 (Anxiety) & 20 (Competition & Success). Most of all, savour the ‘Empty page’.