In 2019, the Swedish-American documentary Life is Coming to Me was released, directed by Kristin Samuelson and John Haptas. It tells the story of refugee children in Sweden who, due to the uncertainty of their legal status, fall into "submission syndrome" - a state similar to a coma. The question that arises when watching: why do children "choose" death over life, although the fear of death is allegedly the deepest, most primordial feeling?
The fear of death is not the most fundamental fear. Much stronger is the fear of life without a goal!
The minute a person does not find the meaning of his existence, he sinks into a state below life. Animals have no such questions. They simply exist because they follow their instincts. Therefore, for them, existence is life.
On the other hand, people need to know why they do what they do. Otherwise, they lack the motivation to act, and all sorts of regressive phenomena occur, from substance abuse to depression, to submissiveness, to suicide. A barren and empty life is worse than death, so people prefer death to aimlessness.
However, the feeling that we have no purpose in life is a powerful driver. It makes us doubt everything. The greatest discoveries of mankind were made when people were looking for answers to questions about the meaning of life.
Today, people seem to have everything they need for a wonderful life. But they have no reason to live. Therefore, they ask the question - what is life for?
This is the most important question possible, the answer to it does not lie on the surface. The reason for our existence is our value in the system, the network , which includes humanity. Each of us is a unique part of this network, and no one can fill the void when one of us is missing. The greater the contribution of each to the strength of the network, the greater his value as an individual.
This is why sociologists and psychologists today are discovering that the key to happiness is the quality of our social connections. Only when we have positive social connections, when each of us fulfills our potential for the benefit of the entire human ecosystem, only then we are truly happy and at the same time contribute to our communities, our countries and the world.
We can create a balanced society where the members are content and happy, but do not exploit other people or the environment. This is only possible when each of us cares about others and finds our happiness in connection with others. It is here that we can realize our personal potential for the benefit of society and the whole world.
Someone should teach balance, balance is a good idea.