“As manifested beings we appear to be separate, but our reality is one, and the less we think of ourselves as separate from that One, the better for us. The more we think of ourselves as separate from the Whole, the more miserable we become.”
— Swami Vivekananda
Spend an hour on a hill, by the sea, or walking without looking at your phone and you’ll feel energized. You’ll also realize how frivolous your desires and problems that otherwise appear daunting are.
Since the beginning, humans have been connected to nature and our communities. Only recently have we started leading urban, individualistic lifestyles.
Connecting with nature and other people improves our mood, cognition, and health. On the other hand, the individualism that we’ve begun to cherish has made us egoistic and miserable. Instead of being useful to others, we see ourselves as better than them. Instead of contributing to the greater good, we fight for our selfish desires.
This isn’t being human; it’s savagery.
Give less of yourself to smart devices and more of yourself to what’s real. Meet one friend for dinner rather than texting 20 of them. Go for a walk or do yoga rather when you can’t stop procrastinating. Make meaningful connections with people rather than trying to get more social media likes.
You may not appear as smart as others who act like they know everything, but you’ll definitely be happier.