Education & Career Trends: August 13, 2024
Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
Article by Deepak Chopra, published on medium.com.
Sometimes a movie is more than just entertainment. Take The Matrix, for example. When it was released in 1999, it quickly became a science-fiction phenomenon. But beyond its high-octane action scenes and groundbreaking visual effects, the film presented a disturbing metaphor for reality. In The Matrix, people lived their everyday lives, oblivious to the fact that they were ensnared in a vast artificial construct controlled by an all-powerful AI. Everything they experienced was an elaborate simulation, a virtual reality designed to keep them docile while their life force was drained by the machines. The movie’s protagonist, a messianic figure known as “The One,” ultimately seeks to free humanity from this digital prison by penetrating the veil of illusion.
While most of us won’t find ourselves caught in such a sinister simulation, we all experience moments when life feels unreal. We say things like “This can’t be happening” or “I feel like I’m in a dream,” expressing a sense of detachment from our surroundings.
Unlike the characters in The Matrix, we’re not trapped in a dystopia run by hidden overlords. Yet, just as in the movie, a fleeting glimpse of what lies beyond the surface can be the key to understanding our reality.
In a way, The Matrix provides a modern, technological update to an ancient concept—Maya, the illusion of everyday life that is central to Indian spirituality. For thousands of years, Indian philosophy has taught that the world we perceive is a facade, and true liberation comes from seeing through this illusion. In The Matrix, accepting the illusion meant surrendering to a mechanism that drained the life out of people. Similarly, in today’s world, passively accepting the stresses and anxieties of modern life can leave us feeling drained and disconnected.
This sense of unease has only intensified since the pandemic. We live in an age of constant threats and insecurities, with a pervasive sense of anxiety hanging over us. Unlike The Matrix, however, there is no “One” to rescue us. The task of escape is a personal project. Whether we label it the Matrix or Maya, the journey toward freedom is one each of us must embark on alone.
Social forces can indeed push us deeper into the matrix of fear, but they cannot pull us out. Liberation from anxiety, threats, and insecurity is an individual endeavour. The good news is that freedom from fear is not only possible—it’s within your reach. The key lies in cultivating emotional intelligence, as fear and insecurity are fundamentally emotional experiences.
Emotional intelligence is invaluable, especially in times of crisis
When you focus on it, you will discover that it is not just about understanding emotions, but also about harnessing them for your benefit. Here are six principles that can guide you on this path:
- Commit to never complaining, criticising, or playing the victim.
- Imagine a creative, positive future for yourself.
- Don’t regret the past—it no longer exists.
- Be present in every situation as it occurs.
- Be independent of other people’s criticism or approval.
- Be responsive to feedback.
These principles aren’t something you stumble upon by chance. Many people go through life without ever realising the importance of emotional intelligence. For some, particularly men, emotions are often seen as a sign of weakness, something to be suppressed or ignored. But this attitude only reinforces the illusion created by the Matrix of societal expectations.
Emotional intelligence, however, is gender-neutral. The ability to observe and understand our own emotions is a remarkable human trait. Once we start observing our emotions, we can begin to counter the influence of negative feelings like fear and anxiety. Hollywood often capitalises on our fascination with emotions, creating characters whose emotional journeys we can empathise with. Yet, when it comes to our own emotions, we tend to shy away from them, preferring to avoid the discomfort they bring.
Developing emotional intelligence doesn’t have to be daunting. All it takes is a willingness to notice and pay attention.
By pausing and stepping back from the immediacy of our reactions, we can begin to observe how we respond at any given moment
The six principles can even be turned into self-reflective questions:
- Am I complaining, criticising, or playing the victim?
- Do I see my future in a creative, positive way?
- Am I pointlessly reliving the past?
- Do I see what’s happening right now?
- Am I afraid of someone else’s criticism or craving their approval?
- Am I listening to what others are trying to tell me?
These are not esoteric or metaphysical questions. We can—and should—pause to ask them at any time. However, old habits and societal pressures often block us from doing so. There is a significant amount of social pressure to operate with low emotional intelligence, leading us to act in self-defeating ways. For example:
- We repeat the same reactions in most situations.
- We imitate how others behave, starting with our family.
- We act on impulse without a second thought.
- We fail to see how others react to us.
- We allow negative emotions like fear, anger, envy, and resentment to control us.
- We easily fall into denial and seek external distractions.
This way of life becomes even more entrenched when collective fear mounts, as it has in recent years. Denial and distraction intensify, and playing the victim becomes more tempting. Alternatively, we may feel an urge to exert control over our emotions, but what we truly need isn’t control—it’s resilience.
Resilience is the cornerstone of emotional intelligence. It means allowing your emotions to rise and fall naturally, without trying to suppress or control them. When an emotion passes, you should be able to return to a state of peace and calm. In contrast, the absence of resilience can lead to rigidity, where people become stiff, reserved, or bottled up inside, avoiding emotions they deem unacceptable. Resilience, like a tree bending in the wind, allows you to withstand emotional storms without breaking.
The mind’s natural state is one of restfulness, alertness and peace
This state of balance is crucial for developing emotional intelligence. While stress and crisis can disrupt this balance, it’s possible to return to it through practices like meditation. Meditation not only helps the mind regain its natural equilibrium, but it also allows you to observe and experience your emotions directly, fostering a deeper connection with the quiet, balanced state of mind.
Ultimately, this is how fear can be permanently escaped. By cultivating emotional intelligence and resilience, we can free ourselves from the Matrix of anxiety and insecurity. In doing so, we expand our awareness and find peace, even amid life’s challenges.
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Have you checked out yesterday’s blog yet
16 Levels of Consciousness: A Path to Personal Growth
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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