Good piece. This struck a chord for me, from the Coleman Hughes quote - “a shift away from reality and toward paranoia, pessimism, and catastrophizing.” Which is exactly where I seem to have been for the last few years, so much so that I became increasingly depressed over the last few months, about how trapped in this left brain swamp I seemed to have become. I don’t use social media, but I do use my phone a lot - reading books, alternative news (mostly right, because no one on the left seems to have a brain cell left, or if they do they end up on the right sooner or later), podcasts and Substacks. So why the paranoia, pessimism, and catastrophizing? Is it the phone itself? Or the news and opinions in the digital space? Or is it just that there are very good reasons for the paranoia, pessimism, and catastrophizing, that everyone seems to be feeling?
I try to feed my right hemisphere - daily meditation, physical work, time outside in the natural world, not abusing drugs or alcohol - but it’s very hard to keep one’s balance.
Apart the devilish device, I think part of the problem is a constant search for good, or at least hopeful, news. There are many good people around (McGilchrist, Kingsnorth, Sacasas, yourself) but they seem to be every bit as paranoid, pessimismistic and catastrophizing as I am. And my search for signs of spring just keeps coming up empty. Aaaargh.
Just remember the #1 rule about news: if it bleeds it leads. Or perhaps they have a new one now: If it creates anger, it's a banger. No one's telling you to stop being informed, but try some more meditating, maybe look at a sunset. To be clear, I'm talking to myself and you. Thanks for reading
Actually, rather than more meditating (tho’ not a terrible idea) I think what I need is a lot fewer words. Excluding fiction and poetry, but less / no news, opinions, analysis and a lot of the substacks i seem to be following (mostly inadvertently) - all of which is simply manure for the left brain 😂
Quite how I’ll pass the empty hours remains to be seen.
I would argue many are drawn to left hemisphere thinking because it is a model or a map. They are running from reality not embracing the model as such.
I think it parallels a narcissistic society. The narcissist after all is projecting a fake persona, and the threat comes from real life.
Plus all those fantasy utopias are neat and tidy unlike reality.
Congrats on the milestone and another banger post.
Thanks for reading.
Good piece. This struck a chord for me, from the Coleman Hughes quote - “a shift away from reality and toward paranoia, pessimism, and catastrophizing.” Which is exactly where I seem to have been for the last few years, so much so that I became increasingly depressed over the last few months, about how trapped in this left brain swamp I seemed to have become. I don’t use social media, but I do use my phone a lot - reading books, alternative news (mostly right, because no one on the left seems to have a brain cell left, or if they do they end up on the right sooner or later), podcasts and Substacks. So why the paranoia, pessimism, and catastrophizing? Is it the phone itself? Or the news and opinions in the digital space? Or is it just that there are very good reasons for the paranoia, pessimism, and catastrophizing, that everyone seems to be feeling?
I try to feed my right hemisphere - daily meditation, physical work, time outside in the natural world, not abusing drugs or alcohol - but it’s very hard to keep one’s balance.
Apart the devilish device, I think part of the problem is a constant search for good, or at least hopeful, news. There are many good people around (McGilchrist, Kingsnorth, Sacasas, yourself) but they seem to be every bit as paranoid, pessimismistic and catastrophizing as I am. And my search for signs of spring just keeps coming up empty. Aaaargh.
Just remember the #1 rule about news: if it bleeds it leads. Or perhaps they have a new one now: If it creates anger, it's a banger. No one's telling you to stop being informed, but try some more meditating, maybe look at a sunset. To be clear, I'm talking to myself and you. Thanks for reading
Actually, rather than more meditating (tho’ not a terrible idea) I think what I need is a lot fewer words. Excluding fiction and poetry, but less / no news, opinions, analysis and a lot of the substacks i seem to be following (mostly inadvertently) - all of which is simply manure for the left brain 😂
Quite how I’ll pass the empty hours remains to be seen.
I would argue many are drawn to left hemisphere thinking because it is a model or a map. They are running from reality not embracing the model as such.
I think it parallels a narcissistic society. The narcissist after all is projecting a fake persona, and the threat comes from real life.
Plus all those fantasy utopias are neat and tidy unlike reality.
I agree
https://youtu.be/3LK0u1zwZFE?si=L1qhJXiNiCBCHe_S
https://youtu.be/d63WDun1hgg?si=AVnf_rs-Wml0drl6
Wooow
I cant imagine anyone being able to take drugs these days without it turning into a nightmare bad trip.
Stay safe and Message me if you want Detox Protocol advice.