Where there are humans, there is hope
A strange take perhaps in a world which has thrown up a grand surprise of grimly epic proportions. The post of USA president has previously been categorized as ‘Leader of the Free World’. Recent events make a mockery of that idea. Somehow, over 70 million people have cast a vote for a convicted criminal to be elected to this highest office.
We mustn’t lose hope that things can turn out alright. There are dark clouds on the horizon. That’s for sure. But think brightly. We’ll need all of our faculties for the challenges ahead. Especially optimism. Things have a way of turning out for the better when you think they will turn out for the better.
There’s always hope, you know.
A contrast with evolutionary cousins
I was musing as I batted my cat off the table today. What goes on in that little feline head of his? Supposedly cats are curious creatures. It comes across in their behaviour. Always seeking to explore. Yearning to get the measure of environments, of people, of their standing. I pondered if the cat can imagine a different life. Imagine a world where it doesn’t get fed regularly. Would it worry? Or indeed, could it conjure a world where it gets fed twice as much? Does it sit and salivate over an imagined brimming bowl of tuna?
This wasn’t my only animal observation of the last few days. Recently, I came across an intriguing fact about human-ape communication. Humans have been using sign language to communicate with apes for over forty years. Apparently in all this time the apes have never asked a question. Think about that for a second. How many times do you ask questions every single day. How? What? When? Where? Why?
The contrast is striking. It seems our animal companions live with the world whereas humans proactively seek to understand it. To live in separation. By appreciating this we can gain perspective. With that perspective comes a realisation that things can be different to how they are now.
There’s always hope, you know.
Breaking down barriers with understanding
Of the one-word questions ‘why?’ seems to be uniquely human. The endlessness of the question of ‘why?’ (and its companion ‘why not?’) leads to creation of tools in the practical sense. We think ‘why can’t we do something?’. There must be a way to crack this nut. There must be a way to dam this river. There must be a way to build a house, a tunnel, a skyscraper. Furthermore, we build up other human phenomena. We create culture. Through our actions and different social choices over time. These become social constructs, like identities, personhoods, beliefs and more.
One psycho-social construct is attribution bias. This is the human tendency to excuse our own faults as situational, at the same time judging others’ actions as personal flaws. This reveals a complex inner world that goes beyond the ability to ask questions. Comprehension of selfhood and an awareness of self. Yet it applies at the larger scale too. Wrapping ones head around it might just help coming to terms with monumental system shocks as we have just witnessed.
Attribution bias can in some circumstances be a barrier. Yet it also offers a path to understanding. When we recognize this bias, we can choose empathy over judgment. Kindness towards our fellow men and women. In amongst all the frustration of difficult and overwhelming events, we can see the individual choices which seem crazy to us, may be driven by powerful forces. This understanding helps bring peace.
There’s always hope, you know.
The Spirits of the Animals
Creativity then, is our way of imagining and constructing a better reality. Here in the UK, estranged from our European allies, and with a joke of a ‘special’ relationship with the United States, we cut a lonely figure on the world stage. Some might not care about the geopolitics of this moment. Unfortunately, it will probably affect us all in some way. Sure, the next few years may be bleak. They may not be years of growth and flourishing for many. Yet, it’s worth trying. The greater the challenge the more we have to gain in the overcoming.
I’m reminded as we draw to the end of the year that this was the first year I thought of as having a spirit animal. The whole reason for coming up with one was a fun ice-breaker task for a work meeting. A task I took very seriously. Gave it considerable thought. I chose to identify with the spirit of the Jaguar. A big cat. A big cat that the ancient Mayan people’s treated as divine. They associated it with creativity and ferocity. Which brings me back to attributes and the animals. Humans are definitely more curious than cats, and pretty much all of the animals in the natural world.
This curiosity is a driving force for change. The question of what can things be like? The power of imagination. This is what leads exploration, creation and invention. Curiosity will keep us engaged and actively looking for solutions, even in challenging times.
There’s always hope, you know.
How can we actually do this?
Problem-solving is one of our most valuable human qualities, especially in difficult moments. Especially when the moments combine to make minutes. When minutes stack up to make hours. And the tougher hours make hard times.
Unlike the animals, humans confront issues not just to survive. We improve and innovate. Today, despite the less than optimal news from the States, countless people around the world are working to solve problems. Have a read of Fix the News if you want to learn more. This collective effort is a considerable force. Something to be proud of. And also to be proud to be a part of. For we’re all in this together. Part of the human spirit.
So embracing our innate curiosity, creativity and problem solving aspects of human nature is a clear way forward. These qualities are part of what makes us resilient and give us belief. Many of us are threatened to be overwhelmed with the magnitude of events unfolding in the world at large.
However, I’ll say it again, where there are humans, there is hope.
Literally. There’s always hope, you know.
