“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” ~Bhagavad Gita
According to the Maya calendar our world will come to an end roughly a year from now in December 2012. There are many rumours about cataclysmic events like polar shifts, wars and the total collapse of the global economy. Should we take these warnings seriously and prepare for the worst, or is it just a hoax? Or maybe the end of the world is more like a way to give meaning to life, as the human race becomes aware of its vulnerability.
- The facts
Whether you believe in ancient prophecies or not, there is definitely something to be said about the fact that the world is undergoing fundamental changes. The earth’s vibration is rising and the magnetic field is changing. Polar shifts are a natural phenomenon and do occur in long cycles. The effects of a polar shift are disastrous to all life on earth, because the magnetic field that protects us from cosmic hazards might temporarily disappear. It’s something that we have no control over and the same counts for the rising temperatures; with the sun intensifying there is no other reason for global warming and all the tales you hear about CO2 emissions are just stories to justify carbon taxes that only exist to steal money from your wallet.
There are also those who speak of a nuclear Third World War that will eradicate most of humanity in the process. Sounds terrible, but it’s pure speculation. On the other side let’s not forget that there are many armed conflicts happening all across the world and that human history is basically one big bloody book. It would be naive to think that we’re even remotely close to world peace when we look at the amounts of money governments are willing to spend and the lives of young men they’re willing to risk in order to protect their interests. To some this may seem logical, but I think it’s a sign of distrust which can only escalate to worsen relations.
Last but not least there’s the issue of a collapsing global economy. In a previous article (The Economic Crisis: A blessing In Disguise) I’ve stated that this is not a bad thing at all. Nevertheless it will still cause panic among many people and that’s why governments will use that fear to create leverage for far reaching decisions in an attempt to centralize power even further. The creation of the ESM (European Stabilization Mechanism) is a prime example of this, because it will allow a small group of juridically immune people to claim funds from any EU country. Using fear as leverage for dictator-like decisions is nothing new. A good example is the US government starting illegitimate wars after 9/11 and passing unconstitutional legislation such as the Patriot Act.
- Independence
Of course there’s not much to do about natural occuring phenomena. It just reminds us of our insignificance in the grand scheme of things. But there’s a lot we can do about our way of life which starts with independent thinking. Instead of choosing from the options we’re given, why not think outside of the box? We limit ourselves by choosing from what is being offered and not questioning the options in the first place. I never agreed to the system that I was born and raised in so why should I let it dictate my options? The truth is that everything is possible and I’m perfectly capable of designing my own life.
Freedom is not something that can be granted and neither is happiness. It is the quality of our decisions that determine the quality of our lives. When we make independent decisions we gain independence and when we decide to do the things that we’re passionate about and love we’ll live fulfilling lives. Independence is important to make your own decisions and be self sustainable. Financial independence is important, but did you ever think about planting a garden to grow your own crops? Or build a well for water, or mount solar panels on your roof for electricity? How about taking the bike for short distances? It saves money and gets you some excercize. These are simple solutions and good investments in health, the environment and your wallet.
- The devil’s advocate
It’s important that people do the right things for the right reasons. Human values are important and should be acted upon if we want to live in a world in which there’s peace and prosperity. There would be no army to kill mothers and children if people would refuse to join the military. It’s really that simple. I myself used to be interested in joining the marines, because the thought of adventure and peace keeping appealed to me. However, at the end of the day the army is just a governmental tool to enforce its will on other people by means of violence no matter how you look at it. They make it look pretty by speaking of national security, freedom, honor and bravery, but in reality those words have very little meaning and are awfully misplaced.
On top of that governments don’t even care about the men who put their lives on the line for queen and country. Statistics show that a large amount of soldiers and veterans suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) and only a fraction gets the care and treatment that they deserve. Even with care and treatment there is no guarantee of what I would call quality of life. A staggering amount of people with PTSD commit suicide. Did I even mention that being a soldier you only fight to serve the goals of a very small group of people who let you do their dirty work for a small paycheck? Risking your life doesn’t do anyone who loves you and cares about you any good. If you want to serve your country joining the army is the worst option to choose from. It’s much better to be the good father your children deserve, to be the good husband your wife deserves and to do something that adds to the wellbeing of others instead of killing for a living.
What I’m trying to say is that creating a better world starts with the individual. The worst thing is for good people to do nothing. If we want world peace we have to start by living peaceful. By making conscious decisions about our lives and in extension the lives of those around us we empower ourselves. I believe in the inherent goodness of mankind, but when they’re lead by those with evil intent then it doesn’t matter who they are. Why do we allow our governments to wage wars and bail out banksters for billions of dollars? We’ve got nothing to gain from that, but are presented with the bill all the same. The solution is not occupying Wall Street, but to stop paying taxes to a government that only pretends to care about its people on election day.
- Stop conforming
Don’t get discouraged by the above. That’s not what I’m trying to accomplish with this post. But it’s important to realize how the game works in order to change it. If you feel frustrated that’s good; let it drive you to find ways to live the life you want. Just because we’re born into a system we don’t have to settle for it. Most of the decisions we make are not really our decisions and that’s something we have to turn around. In order to be in control of our lives we have to be in control of our decisions and accept the consequences. Happiness without freedom doesn’t exist so what could possibly be worth giving up on that?
The truth is that the world isn’t just going to end. It will transform into whatever you want it to be. The world is a mirror of who we are and every day we’re given countless of opportunities to add to its beauty. There’s nobody out there who’s pulling the strings for you as long as you don’t allow them to. We all breathe the same air and bleed the same blood. Power is not a function of wealth or status, but of the mind. The decisions we make today will shape tomorrow. Don’t take life for granted, because it’s over before you know it.
