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Part of a book I'm writing:
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"It truly is not an easy task to be (and remain) normal in a world where the system of values is completely twisted, a world where immorality is glorified and advertised on every corner.
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This is a very complex subject and a thousand-page book for itself. I will try to cover it within one paragraph.
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Society, TV, our surroundings, formal education, social media, etc., have all influenced the way we think and look at things. They've set the standards of the world and (sub)consciously encoded it in each one of us. Luxury, debauchery, adultery, drugs, fame... A twisted system of values. If you're not involved, you will be looked at as someone who is “living in the 15th century”, a fool, a crazy person, someone who “doesn't enjoy life”, etc. So you adapt to this lifestyle because you want to feel like you belong – you start chasing those ideals. Some (most, actually) will feel good and will think that it's the way to go, but sooner or later, there will come a bill to pay. That bill can be a range of things, from the worst illnesses, diseases, addictions, and mental states, all the way to death. The worst thing is, most will realize that this is not “life”, but they won't know any better as that lifestyle has become a part of their identity – their comfort zone.
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The sole purpose of this book is to present you with what happiness truly is, how to achieve it and how to cherish it.
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Our lives are also often unsatisfactory because we spend our time worrying about what has happened or what might happen instead of living. The problem, however, isn’t the worries themselves. Rather, because you identify with these worries, they dominate you. So, when you’re under a lot of stress, do not think “I’m now fully aware that I’m going through some sad feelings,” but instead “Oh God, everything’s messed up and there’s absolutely no way out.”
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We’re all faced with misfortune at some time or other. Rather than simply giving up because we feel unable to handle the situation, we could employ the following three strategies: First, we should let go of our egos and trust in our ability to handle situations as they arise. For example, we’ve all had a computer stop working for apparently no reason, usually when we’re in the middle of doing something important. And most of us have experienced a delayed flight, disrupting our schedules for the day or missing an important event.
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“Why is this happening to me?” we often ask ourselves. We feel this frustration because such situations seem to be in direct conflict with our intentions.
First, you have to know that there is no such thing as “random”. Everything that has ever happened to you, happened for a reason. Sometimes, we can see the reason (you might realize years later why something happened), sometimes we can't. Acknowledge it, accept it, and move on with your life.
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Another strategy is to practice being mindful of our environment.
Take, for example, Charles Lindbergh, the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic. Taking such an apparent risk would’ve struck fear into most people, but rather than focusing on his fear, Lindbergh paid attention to the intricacies of the cockpit – the levers, knobs, and even the welding marks. By being mindful, Lindbergh was freed from his anxiety.
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Thirdly, instead of giving up in the face of difficult situations, you should use them to discover novel solutions."
