A 'PROBLEMATISED' PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORLD PROMOTES A DISTORTED VIEW AND REALITY. PT.2

Endeavour to acquire and maintain a balanced and healthy perspective of the challenges confronting you.

We, especially in the West, have or are becoming accustomed to a culture which demands that 'life should be risk-free', including the inevitability of death. Every day thousands of children die tragically, which causes great despair and anguish to their parents and families. Imagine if all of these deaths were to be 'newsitised' or be cited in news bulletins? Imagine how negative 'a natural' event would be made into, and how it would adversely impact on people's emotional and psychological health, even though they would not be able to bring back one of those deceased children?

It has, of course, been said that 'bad news is good news.' But we also are all aware that 'bad news' is usually harmful news, not only for the people 'who make it', or 'around whom it is made', but because of the collective unhappiness, pain and depression which it can cause.

Focusing on the brighter side of living.

Take, for example, the many charitable organisations which are currently fronting their appeals with forlorn looking impoverished children and victims of diseases, in the hope of pricking the conscience of potential donors and getting them to part with their money. Yes, it is the modern media and psychology at work. The subliminal message is always that, 'this could be you or someone you love, so do something.' We have seen this 'problematisation' approach applied so 'successfully' to the African continent, that many, too many, people's perception of African is of an impoverished and disaster-ridden 'country'; something which is very far from being the truth, but which has become the received perception.

Fact is that, notwithstanding the many terrible things which are happening in the world, they probably do not represent the lives of the majority of people, and that the positives in the world outnumber the negatives. Just as how the 'good people' in the world outnumber the 'bad people.' It is understandable that people should be striving and cooperating to make 'bad things better' and the lives of the less fortunate people better, but it is folly and futile do anything which might give people the impression that life should or will become risk averse. The business of living presents problems for people, and these problems have to be contended with, as they cannot be completed removed, while humans continue to maximise their enjoyment of their time on the earth.

There are really times when the 'grass is greener' for other people or for us.

It is desirable that much more is done to reflect the good and positive things about our world, and the model of the better world many or most of us would want to see and some working for, and not the image of a depressing and depressed humanity. Some of our human problems, such as poverty, illnesses and diseases, shortage of water, fuel to cook, food, wars, and dying, are problems which will always be with us humans. It would be good for us to have a realistic perspective on them, and the extent to which can be eradicated or mitigated.

Having a positive approach or outlook can actually lead to positive outcomes.

We should strive to live the best and happiness lives we can, despite of these problems, before we are faced with  that of our common destiny, and have to succumb to it.