Culture’s Chronic Anxiety Problem

By: Rosemary Dewar

A lack of patience weaponizes bitter anger. Those that stir up fears of scarcity and jeopardy attempt to lead the next revolution. Most epiphanies are meant for the individual to live out for themselves. Bringing down a society in order to facilitate one’s subjective ideal is nothing short of tyranny. If the desired outcome is lasting improvement, it will take merciful endurance.

Not only are there those who want to convince you of imminent calamity, they want to be the ones to persuade you that they are the only answer. It is possible that the ones who claim they are trying to save you are also orchestrating the disorder in the first place. That sense of urgency can easily be alleviated with a willingness to wait. Elements of tension, suspense, and drama are what people use to emotionally con the viewer. The ability to wade through that is a valuable commodity.

When someone discovers a new method or process that makes one’s life easier, sometimes that revelation is meant for that person alone. Once that one person tries to persuade others through force, the good that could come out of it is extinguished. Leading by example is difficult because you have to live it out. Time has to be invested, and more than you anticipated most of the time.

Similar to an episode of the TV show Shark Tank, investors ask, “How long have you been in business?” or “How many units have you sold?” or “What have you personally invested?” The audience never feels bad for the guy that expresses skepticism and scolds the investors for “missing out on a big opportunity.” If what someone has to offer is beneficial, and people find a need for it, it will be appreciated enough to be distributed.

Granted, people in history made decisions that hindered advancement. They also allowed their inner drama and anxiety to form conclusions that harmed their communities.

British author, James Allen said that, “Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.” It is simply impossible to advance one without the other. If too anxious, men will destroy their neighbors before changing anything. Ruthless leaders have done that for centuries. Their ideals will bring millions to slaughter before others deliver them out of that thinking. It is no different than the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks; they both had rash ideas about “improving” their way of life.

They were both gravely wrong.

The Judeo-Christian perspective states that we are to “not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself,” as well as “do not [worry] because of evildoers, or be envious of the wicked.” Maliciousness eventually destroys itself without your help. Those that squander their wealth will lose it soon enough.

Waiting out the storm is essential most of the time. It is strenuous and uncomfortable, but those behind you will value you for doing so. Many will depend on it, and that type of experience is rarely ignored or needless. Lessons are long, and they are to be endured. Many will try to cheat it, change the rules, and deprive you of your investment; however, their success will be short-lived and diminished.

Those that promise “a leveled playing field,” or “give you the wealth that is ‘rightfully’ yours” are lying, and are willing to violate your community to satisfy you. There is nothing to be gained from empty assurances. Revolutions that demand blind submission and emotional coercion have ended gruesomely.

Take your time. Society is counting on those that can suffer properly, not needlessly.
By: Rosemary Dewar