The power of the human spirit

The world is in a tumultuous place. We are living in a time of uncertainty, unaware of what may lie ahead. Australia, although geographically distant from the current atrocities of the world cannot escape the impending and imminent implications of our ever present cost of living crisis, the looming threat of terrorism and scarcity of housing. When you talk to work colleagues, friends and family there seems to be an overarching sense of fear. People are genuinely concerned about their financial predicaments and social welfare over the coming months. 

In the midst of the Covid-19 lockdowns, Victoria had lost its spirit. There seemed to be a dark cloud over the state. It was hard to see once positive and resilient people stripped of their sense of hope. Many mentally grappled with the fact that their once vibrant flame had now been forcefully and abruptly blown out. 

I don’t think that the flame has come back.

With the many hours of available time I had during quarantine, I found myself gravitating towards filling it with literature. My reading interests inherently force me to gravitate towards writing that educates and informs. I prefer reading that is self-help and factual, yet somehow, these pieces of writing are transcribed in my mind as a bleak and reflective vision to do better and to be better. As you can imagine, I am self-critical.  I was recommended a book by a relative that although was a psychoanalysis on innate human behaviour, it described humans as intrinsically loving and caring with a deep desire to help others.

Humankind: A Hopeful History written by Rutger Bregman sets this overarching tone that although history is often viewed for the evils that have been committed over time, human history is actually not only one of brutality but of commitment, offering, fearlessness and generosity. I was always under the impression that humans are biologically selfish and act primarily in their own self-interets. But I was wrong. This book gave me a fresh perspective on what foundationally determines the power of the human spirit. 

In the book, Bregman explains that when people are panicked and scared, fear drives them to be viscious and ego-centric. This psychological tactic allowed for Stallin, Hitler and Mussolini to control the masses through war. During the Second World War London was attacked by the German Luftwaffe, killing over 40,000 people. The aerial bombings caused physical destruction, loss and mourning yet, the British people never surrendered. They maintained some form of normality going about their daily practice -  drinking tea, shopping and commuting. It was the sense of camaraderie, mateship and unity that propelled the British through these trying times. Britain emerged with an unbreakable sense of unification. To me, this is the power of the human spirit.

We learn a great deal about human suffering and resilience from this moment in history. Ultimately, it was care, compassion and unity that was a driving force for maintaining a level of positivity. There was a feeling, a feeling that could not be dismantled. It was a determination  to “Keep Calm and Carry On.”

The human spirit is still as powerful as ever. It lays dormant within us, our light dimly flickering. We can reignite our flame by remembering the way we feel when we can change the life of another. Our power lies in our actions and thoughts. It can be as simple as leaving food on our neighbour’s doorstep. It can be as easy as sending a text message to a friend, reminding them you’re not too far away. It can be as important as being by someones side during hardship. We can adapt to our environment, but we should not let our environment dictate what it looks and feels like to be a human. Do it not because you seek something in return but because you want to make a difference. 

In the words of my grandmother:

“Εάν βοηθάς κάποιον, με όποιον τρόπο μπορείτε, ξεχάστε το. Είναι μια καλή πράξη που έπρεπε να γίνει. Αλλά, αν κάποιος σε βοηθάει, μην το ξεχνάς ποτέ.”

“If you help someone out, in any way that you can, forget about it. It is a good deed that had to be done. But, if someone helps you out, never forget it.”

Human Kind: A Hopeful History