Avoidance: The Dark Truth Of Society

Evolution = Problem-Solving

Every change in the genes serves one purpose: better survival than the predecessor. This has been the one simple goal of organisms since the Big Bang. Life is about extending the survival of the species.

Changes in the environment mean necessary changes in the inhabiting species. Those who fail to do so, will go extinct with a high probability rate. Changes are necessary if you want to survive.

All other life-forms are evolving from generation to generation. It takes hundreds, thousands, even millions of years for biological evolution to take place. Changes to the environment might be sudden, but the evolutionary reaction might take a millenia.

Humanity has evolved to be the King of adaptation. Our brains is capable of solving complex issues, by finding the perfect solution to every obstacle. This is one of a kind in the known universe. There is no other life form that is capable of such incomprehensible development. We can change our whole thinking, adapt to any environmental change, and survive the harshest of conditions, only because we are capable of using tools and our brains to come up with solutions.

We can understand ourselves better than any other species. A lion will not spend time to think about why he hunts the gazelle, likewise a gazelle will not stop and try to convince the lion not to eat it. They are guided by instinct, the survival mechanisms taking place constantly in their brain. The why is not important, only survival is what matters to them.

Our ability to think ahead of the consequences of our actions make us perfect survivalists. We know winter comes each year, so we stock food and warm clothes to better survive. We know exactly how our mood changes based on the environmental changes, so we come up with self-soothing techniques that help us stay sane in chaotic times.

As science evolves, so does our understanding of how the human brain works. The chemical reactions taking place, how changes affect it, the importance of connection, and our survival instincts. This is a huge responsibility, as now we have the tools to change our own thinking.

Unfortunately, others have tools to change our thinking as well.

The Dopamine-Craze

Dopamine is the chemical that affects our behaviour probably the most. It’s the “feel-good” chemical, and is responsible for motivation. When we get a sense of accomplishment after completing a hard task, the dopamine rush is this “sense”. Of course, since we know what it is, and how the brain creates it, we know how to artificially manipulate the brain to release it.

Enter artificial dopamine releasing activities. These have been created with the sole purpose of stimulating the dopamine receptors, making the brain feel the reward, without the action. You can think of it as a lever you can pull to feel good. No effort required.

This artificial dopamine release is connected to highly processed foods (sugar, high fat, flavor enhancers), mind-altering substances (alcohol, drugs, even nicotine), even social media (huge amounts of stimuli in a short time), and, of course, arousal (khm… you know…).

These are examples of how we have learned to harness the power of dopamine. And, with these quick “hacks”, we now have the ability to just relax and still reap the benefits of the reward system.

Of course, good dopamine is still the result of thinking, hard work, and accopmlishments. But why would we expend energy, when we can just get the same feeling without any effort?

We are all addicts, whether we like it or not.

Soothing The Brain

And now, we connect the two dots.

Evolution is about problem-solving.

Dopamine is about feeling good and content.

Feeling bad? Just do some dopaminergic activity, or eat some sweets.

See, now you instantly feel better.

What happened to the problem?

Oh, don’t worry, it’s still there.

But you don’t feel the negative effects, do you?

Everything is fine and dandy.

Society Wants Painkillers

When you are opting to numb the pain, instead of actually solving the problem at the root, you are essentially taking painkillers. Dopamine is one of these; you know you have issues in your life, but it’s easier to just relax and let the dopamine hit take you to highs. Working for dopamine would mean actually putting in effort.

Since your motivation is tied to getting the dopamine hit, now you will not take the time to naturally create the reward. You get it elsewhere.

This is what society is built upon. They want you to stay docile, eat your trash food, watch your trash content, spend your hard-earned money on more dopamine, and slowly waste away, since you have no incentive to do anything more with your life. You are part of the rat-race, working to spend, and die when you cannot work anymore.

The Solution

What’s the solution, you might ask?

First, you have to realize these facts.

See the traps around you.

See the rat-race you are in.

See the people caught in it.

Self-awareness is the first step.

As soon as you realize it, you now can step out of it. Consciously plan your actions, so you see these for what they really are: a means of control. Your biggest weapon is taking back the control.

Control over your body.

Control over your mind.

Control over your life.

When you take the wheels, you know exactly where you are headed. Every action guides you towards your goals. You can now see the trajectory. The path is built by choices.

Choosing the hard over the easy.

Choosing work over soothing.

Choosing to live instead of wasting away.

Choosing solutions instead of avoidance.

This is your ticket out of it. Consciously creating your path, while avoiding the pitfalls planted by society. This is the road less traveled.

You will be mocked.

You will be ridiculed.

You will be challenged.

People won’t be happy.

But you have to keep going.