Chapter 11: Starting Over from the Bottom Upward. The Will to Live
June 8, 1984
Starting over – changing one’s beliefs, is
a bold endeavor. It is quite possible
that along the way you may become discouraged or disillusioned.
At such times, it is a good idea to give
yourself time to relax. Turn your
attention to something else entirely, and mentally say, “To hell with it all
for now”. The entire idea involves a
process in which you try and not try at the same time, in which you do
not strain to achieve results, but instead gently begin to allow
yourself to follow the contours of your own subjective feelings, to uncover
those spiritual and biologically valid beliefs of early childhood, and to bring
them the very best wisdom that you have acquired throughout your life so far.
So, when you do become discouraged, a
playful diversion should give you refreshing release. An escapist movie or novel, or the purchase
of some small frivolous item may also serve to relax your conscious mind. We are actually involved in changing a way of
life, in altering your very view of the self and the world in the hopes of a
new sense of harmony with our bodies, our minds, our fellow creatures, and the
environment.
Indeed, there is no more exciting
adventure, and it will bring about more surprises and discoveries than any
expedition to alien landscapes. Your
beliefs are indeed alive in their own fashion.
Now, instead of taking them for granted, you will begin to notice both
their uniqueness and their variety.
If we are talking about starting over,
however, we may as well begin at one of the lowest points and work upward. This way you can see beliefs in their darkest
form, and then little by little watch them begin to show energy, vitality, and
fresh impetus.
In nearly all matters of poor health, or
unfortunate living conditions or mental or physical stress, there exists a
strong tinge of denial, fear, and repression.
These are seen at their most severe and
their most obvious where suicide is involved – particularly suicide of the
young. Later we will discuss some
special cases of reincarnational influence connected with suicide, but for now
we will be concerned with the increasing numbers of suicides by young adults.
At one time or another, most people
consider the possibility of their own death.
That is a quite natural reaction to the conditions of life. With some people, however, the idea of death
seems to grow obsessive, so that it is felt to be the one escape from life’s
problems. It may even achieve an allure
in some people’s minds.
The propelling force in all of existence is
the desire to be, however – the impetus toward expression, development,
and fulfillment. Some people who
consider suicide believe in life after death, and some do not – and in the
deepest of terms all deaths are somewhat suicidal. Physical life must end if it is to survive. There are certain conditions, however, that
promote suicidal activity, and the termination of one’s own life has been held
in great disrepute by many religions and societies, though not in all.
Individuals innately want to cooperate with
their fellow human beings. They have a
need to help other people, and to contribute to the common good. Many people who commit suicide feel to the
contrary that they are no longer needed, or in fact that their very existence
stands in the way of other people’s happiness.
Young adult suicides are not necessarily from the poorest or the lowest
stratas of society at all. In fact,
poverty often serves as a strong impetus, leading the individual to fight for
his or her daily needs.
Such a person’s days may be so crowded with
desperate activity that there is no time with which to even contemplate
suicide, because the struggle for life itself is so intent.
Again, the desire for value fulfillment,
development and purpose is so strong that if those seem denied, life becomes
– or seems to become – less precious. In
many cases, it is the son and daughter of the upper middle-classes, or the
well-to-do, who run into such life-endangering dilemmas. Some youngsters are so overly provided for by
their families that it seems that there is no way for them to achieve any more
than they have.
If their parents are overly indulgent, then
the youngsters may actually feel as if they were adjuncts to their parents, or
possessions alone. On the other hand,
some upper-middle-class families stress competition to such a degree that it
seems to the children that they are only valued for their achievements,
rather than being loved for simply being the people they are.
To most people, none of these situations
seem particularly drastic, and certainly there are far worse cases of human
disillusionment in the world. Yet many
such youngsters literally see no future for themselves as adults.
They do not visualize themselves as future parents,
or as having certain careers. It is as if
their whole lives accelerated to the brink of adulthood – yet they could see nothing
beyond. Along the way, whether or not it
was obvious to parents, such youngsters begin to feel that life is meaningless.
Often such individuals are highly gifted,
yet they feel as if that promise will never blossom.
In most cases these youngsters are actually
quite secretive – though the self they show to parents and friends might appear
to be lively and gregarious.
Such persons can help themselves, however,
and they can be helped by others.
First of all, let me make it clear that no one
is “damned” for committing suicide. There
are no particular “penalties”.
Would-be suicides, for all their secrecy, usually
do mention the subject to a friend, relative, or close family member. The subject should not be ignored or condemned,
but honestly examined. Part of the mystique
of the suicidal impulse is indeed the secretive aspect – so the very expression
of the feeling is beneficial, and leads to better communication.
Indeed, part of the would-be suicide’s dilemma
may be caused by a lack of communication with others, a misinterpretation of the
motives of friends or family members, and a difficulty in expressing one’s own needs
and wishes.
No comments:
Post a Comment