Time to let go of selfish imagination
All hardships in our world right now seem to be originated from one thing:
“selfish imagination”
Imagination is a unique feature of humans. The ability to see something that doesn’t physically exist but only in one’s mind is a powerful yet double-edged sword.
A primary example of a double-edged imagination is money. Money is just an idea from the human mind. Common currency among societies brought us so many benefits. On the flip side, the idea of “making more and more money only for self or for one’s own business” causing chain reactions of unsustainable economic growth. It led to unbalanced wealth and the destruction of nature. It resulted in an unbalanced ecosystem that contributed to global warming, and even the birth of the virus caused covid19. Assuming only flying mammal=bats losing their habitats due to cut down forests and global warming is one of the main reasons the virus jumped from bats to humans. There are other examples of selfish imaginations: caste system, racism, discrimination, ownership of land (the land was already there before humans evolved, did monkeys own land?), country borderlines, political power, propaganda without real understanding, etc., etc. all human’s selfish imaginations.
covid19 may be a wake-up call from mother nature to realize the most significant mistake humans ever made about how our imaginations have been used. Imaginations do their best only when they are used for both self and others. They should never be used for selfish gains.
covid19 is showing us clearly how everything is intertwined and connected. Whether we like it or not, we are all in this together.
The virus doesn’t discriminate against anyone regardless of race, wealth, religion, intelligence, age, gender, sexual orientation: for the first time in long human history since prehistoric hunter-gatherer days. It puts everyone on equal ground. covid19 is also showing us that everyone really matters, regardless of your status. Today, all of our lives depend entirely on hardworking essential workers. Some of them may be doing simple work and may not be well compensated for their hard work, yet no one can keep on living right now without them. Today, we know for sure everyone matters.
Because of covid19, today may be the best chance we’ve got to reset the whole world by using imaginations not only for one’s self but for everyone.
For example, imagine a simple, small and selfless idea, “helping people next to you.” by helping people next to you in need, you get help when you are in need. Obviously, this only works when everybody is in it, but it could make the world a win-win place for everyone. the results from selfless imagination are already in today. Essential workers are practicing it through their selfless efforts every day. Take the Hippocratic oath, for example. It’s just an idea. It doesn’t take physical form, yet, medical doctors take it to their hearts and execute the idea. The precious lives of their patients are saved because of those doctors following through with the selfless idea.
Thank you to all of the essential workers! You all are true heroes, and our future literally depends on your selfless mentality and actions.
One thing left to be done for the rest of us non-essential workers is to follow your lead and let go of selfish imagination, always include others in addition to self when using imaginations.
Imagine a world where all humans always think about the balance of nature in our imaginations. Imagine a world where all world leaders always think about the benefits of others than those of only themselves. It’s a simple, small, and easy thing to do. Just add others in addition to self to our imaginations. A simple and small 30,000 base-pair virus (human genome has 3 billion base-pair) causing covid19 can totally alter all modern human societies this quickly. It will be equally quick to change the world by using human imaginations the correct way. If everyone can do this, then everyone wins. No one gets left behind.
