Survival of the fittest is awesome because it turns everything into a game. If I’m bigger, faster, and stronger, I will win and survive. I can spend my whole life playing endless games to acquire wealth, fame, and power. Unfortunately, this this scientific theory that we dedicate our lives to applies to species, not individuals. The truth is, none of us survive. No matter how we choose to live our lives, we are all going to die. When I remember this reality, these games of accumulation become meaningless. What am I trying to win? And am I actually struggling to survive?
A major problem with structuring our lives in the framework of games is that while someone will win, at least one person, and often many people, will lose. And losing is miserable. I can lose a simple card game and suddenly I feel like I’ve failed at life. By constantly competing to create a pecking order through grades, income, house size, or twitter followers, we are creating an abundance of miserable people.
So what if we stopped playing games and started living by the rules of reality? We accept that life is finite, skills come and go, and resources are finite. Instead of trying to stand on someone’s shoulders to feel self worth, we start realizing that we can join the same team and work towards being happy. Instead of hording resources, we use our resources to help our communities. Instead of forcing individuals to fight over limited jobs, we help people find a way to contribute. Instead of expending energy to create an artificial reality, we can start working to accept reality as it is. Peace isn’t something you go out and get. It’s something you receive when you let go of your attachments. Meditation can help us to find peace within so we can start to share the path to peace with others. Sharing this path is what will bring lasting happiness. Time to meditate.
