Based on a framework from Christian mysticism, imagination is like an emanating force in the world that can be created through our consciousness. This force ripples outward from our creative and flourishing acts, which the Greeks call eudaimonia.
In the West, societal cohesion and cultural hegemony are under attack. Polarization and political division between immigrants and the existing population have created conflict, as norms and expectations of civility and morality differ from those of the poorer developing countries many immigrants come from.
The young and the old are also in conflict. The baby boomers, having benefited from the best healthcare in the world, have amassed more wealth than all the new generations combined. Combined with a political structure and older generations grasping onto power, people at the bottom of the wealth pyramid have little sense of hope or freedom. These people are also most often the immigrants mentioned previously.
The people in the middle, the “middle class,” and the young people born into these families are entering a world of little opportunity, with hedonism and individualism becoming the dominant beliefs. While we believe that our technology is advancing rapidly, one could argue that very little has changed over the past 20 years.
Making things worse is the over-financialization of everything. We cannot help but notice the lack of real innovation, since so much money is poured into speculation in places such as prediction markets and crypto exchanges. More recently, the stock market has also succumbed to the same fate and has become a mainstream avenue for high-risk bets.
While all this is shifting the ground beneath us, the vast majority of young people are spending more and more time on social media, gambling, pornography, and shopping. The world is far too overwhelming to wade through, so they find an escape.
All this is to say that we live in a dark place. People think the only choice is to look away from the crisis and willfully blind themselves to what is happening. Yet more and more, people will come to realize that we have the ability to attain freedom.
Beyond the bare necessities of water, food, and shelter, what we ultimately need to do is cultivate ourselves to be resilient, compassionate, and wise. Each of these traits is underpinned by our imagination and the creativity of being human. No matter how big or small the challenge, these traits will help you succeed.
So what is the point of this when the world is so messed up? Have faith. Have faith that we are all, collectively, mirrors of one another. When a single candle shines, it is reflected from every direction. The light will envelop the world slowly as each person holds a brighter and brighter candle.
As we each walk along our journeys, we should share with others our stories of becoming more resilient, compassionate, and wise. This is what I will be doing on this blog. I wish you the best in your pursuit of imagination and creativity, and I hope we will flourish together.
Donovan