The other day I came across something that hit me like a ton of bricks and shook me to my core. I was listening to an excellent podcast with Adam Robinson and he brought up something that deeply troubles me and I can’t get out of my head…. I wish this was some incredible idea or beautiful concept but it is something that shows what a sad place so many people are going through life in.
In the interview Adam asks the listeners to pull up Google Search and type in “how can I learn to”… When he said this I assumed the first Google recommendation would be something like “how can I learn to cook”, or some ordinary tasks most people perform on a daily basis. But that wasn’t the first result…. Not even close.
The first result is “how can I learn to love myself”… You mean to tell me the number one thing people in this world are trying to learn how to do is love themselves? If that doesn’t bring sadness to your heart I don’t know what will. In a world of infinite possibilities the thing people are most trying to learn how to do is love themselves! Let that sink in for a minute. If you can’t love yourself then what can you love?
Next Adam asks to search “why do I feel so”, and what comes up is “tired”, “tired all the time” “weak”, “alone”, “exhausted”, “empty”… All feelings and moods associated with depression and loneliness.
Finally Adam asks you to search “why is everyone else”. And the results…. “why is everyone else’s life better than mine”, “why is everyone else’s life so perfect”, “why is everyone else better than me”, “why is everyone else so happy”, “why is everyone else so pretty”…..
For me the saddest part is we have a world deeply troubled, feeling alone and depressed but thinking that everyone else has it figured out, is happy and perfect.
So what do we do with this? I happen to be writing this on my son’s first Birthday and can’t help feeling deeply saddened by the pain so many are experiencing while at the same time thinking everyone else is living the perfect life. I don’t have a solution but I’m hoping we can all start small. Find one person today to show them they are loved and that they bring something special to this world. After all, everyone is dealing with something so let’s try to bring a little more joy to the world.
Sean