How do I stay sane in a crazy world?
This is such a tempting and popular thought right now, isn’t it? I would be willing to bet that most of you have thought this at least once recently.
But here is the thing….
At the exact moment I hear myself ask that question, I also notice the presupposition. I hear the opinion that I am masquerading as if it were a fact.
Opinions as facts are so persuasive! Half the time we don’t even notice it wasn’t a fact (just have a listen to an advert or a politician). They are the Superman/Superwoman of language devices if you use them for empowerment, and the super villain if you use them to convince yourself that the world is on its way to the dogs.
Think Spidey: ‘with great power comes great responsibility’.
Presuppositions/ opinions as facts are statements with power! We create magic with our words.
Whether those words are in your head or spoken out loud. The things that we tell ourselves about our world around us affect our RAS (reticular activating system), a part of the brain that works out what to look for. You will definitely know what I mean when I give you an example.
You buy something new and then you see it everywhere - could be a certain hairstyle, dress or perhaps a new car - but all of a sudden you see that there are a few of them around and you could swear there wasn’t before. True or true?
That same system listens to you saying ‘how do I stay sane in this crazy world’? It doesn’t know that there is a presupposition there. It doesn’t know to question that statement you just made that the world is crazy; instead it fully believes the world to be ‘crazy’ and the RAS starts looking for the information that supports that. Information that builds the narrative. That gives certainty in an ironic attempt to feel safer. Ironically, the idea that being right about being unsafe is more reassuring to the part of the brain that just wants to be certain, than the idea that this may be completely inaccurate and we just can’t quite be sure.
The decision I have already made when I ask this question is that the world is in fact crazy. I am about to lose half of you here, because you will be so committed to the belief that the world has gone mad, that when I tell you we can’t possibly know that to be true, you will think I have gone mad. We could come up with a million reasons to support this too. Probably in about 60 seconds. Those thoughts are right there, at the forefront in our minds rattling around like tin cans in a dryer. Quick fact for you - did you know that every day the scientists believe that 80 percent of our thoughts are the same ones we had yesterday AND 90 percent of those are negative. Now that is crazy, and guess what, that is your world - because the reality is that our world is the one that needs us to be sane. Because that is the world we can affect.
Watch those thoughts and look for everything good in this life, but especially in your life and your relationships. They do not have to be perfect to be worthwhile.
Sarah x