Watch When You Need

ON DEMAND...an evolving trend in consuming digital entertainment. While on surface it does look enticing and lucrative, deeper it is disturbing leading to many social disturbances. Excess of anything is poisonous; so is any kind of binge activity and binge watching definitely are no exception to this. For those who think you are already in control and want skip reading further, all I got to say is Watch When You Need and not Watch When You Want. To the rest thank you in choosing to read on.

We have never been spared from capitalist exploitation to provide profits for few stakeholders. In the present digital era we are made to believe that binge watching at our convenience and comfort is the freedom to happiness. Skinner; the famous psychologist and behaviorist said "If freedom is a requisite for human happiness, then all that's necessary is to provide the illusion of freedom". Social media companies have the perfect recipe for creating this illusion. 

A caution not mentioned to us about binge watching is that it is an addictive drug that stops us from looking at real world. This drug fulfills giving illusion happiness in beginning but subsequently demands more screen time in providing the same level of happiness, pleasure. It is because of the dopamine effect where body gets used with certain amount of dopamine (the feel-good hormone) and requires additional to feel the pleasure with same activity. All problems related to drug addiction such as depression, anxiety, waning patience, social withdrawal, quick snap and anger, weight management (over weight or under weight), sleep deprivation, laziness are all outcomes of binge watching too.

With extra screen time we are unknowingly conditioned; how many of us realize this? This is extensively studied under branch of psychology - Behaviorism. According to this mind states are conditioned by repetition. Watson, Pavlov, Skinner are renowned psychologists who have extensively researched on behaviorism. Binge watching induces dopamine secretion and on longer duration it reduces thinking capabilities of our mind. With no effective regulation the wave of binge watching has hit the young and old like a tsunami; come without notice, none spared. The impact is greatest on the Millennials. We become what we consume. Their behaviors are being conditioned unknowing to them through this digital consumption. Thoughts and ideas are being injected that evolve as behavioral outcome. An interesting docudrama Social Dilemma explains the capitalist exploitation.

Only answer to this social problem is lesser screen time which equates to much calmer mind that allows clearer thinking. Look into the needs than wants to feel real happiness.

#capitalistexploitation, #dopamineeffect, #beahviorism, #conditioning, #socialdilemma, #freedomtohappiness

Eat While You Need

COVID-19 pandemic is spreading its pestilence across the globe. This virus is sparing none; and looks like setting new paradigm in equality (well we know nature does not discriminate). While there is pointing fingers across various country leaders from its origin, control and handling of the crisis; is it just that this is happening to humans? Did we deserve what we got?

Greed in a selfish way seem our creed. Humans continue to eat because we like it, not because we need it. All other animals consume food when they need (hungry) only humans consume whenever we also like it. Added factor is that the consumption of meat has moved from occasional to major part in human diet. The overall consumption of meat increased from 50 milliontons/year to 300milliontons/year in last 60 years.

Excessive meat consumption creates ethical concerns and related issues to produce. Few of those are endangering species, conditions in which the animals are farmed, cruelty involved in the ways of slaughtering. 

These acts have caused imbalance in the Earth’s ecosystem. As such these acts of greed could be seen as evil and Mother Nature is punishing in her own ways through the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that the origin of the virus is currently considered to have started by animal to human transmission could rationalize this reasoning. The collective human behavior and actions seem to have caused the misfortune that has befallen on us. It is #Karma in Asian terminology or as #JustWorldHypothesis in Western psychology. 

This hypothesis makes the need for rethinking human food consumption. Humans are species with high level of cognition. As being rational souls we could approach the situation in two different ways. First by accepting the reality; make it a need (when hungry) to eat not a like to eat. By doing this consumption of food will get abated thereby allowing resources to be optimized and effectively used. Secondly by rationalization; humans have to rethink their eating habits. Technology revolution is linked with reduced physical activity at work, home and travel and increased sedentary activities especially television watching, smart phone usage. This could mean it is time to rethink consumption of high energy food that after digestion if not used accumulates as fat further complicating health conditions.

To come out is by creating more awareness led by parents, health officials and governments. Laws should be put in place for ethical breeding of animals. These actions will regulate the food chain and make it sustainable. #Eatwhileyouneed and not when you like.

COVID-19: Time-out of Rat race

We, the citizens of the world, participate relentlessly in rat races to unreachable destinations. Once part of it, the whole is plunged into it. The need for the race is incomprehensible but primarily for money, power, luxuries. In short to uphold the social animal position in the name of happiness.

Historically it is evident that, at crucial juncture's God cautions human on aberrant behavior by various means. Provides time out to re-align our paths from such behavior. Could the recent COVID-19 outbreak be one such warning? If it is, this timeout could be for various reasons. We ain't saints. 

To me it is time for self-reflection. In a world of lost identities it is now that we have been given a chance to re-define and re-sculpt our self. With countries under lock-down, more time is available to most of us than ever to re-think our visions and goals. A moment to reflect, understand and align with the purpose of life. By the process of re-sculpting self, some might even opt out of the race for their soul to live and travel in peace.

The virus is at large and does scare most, but on a positive note use this time-out provided to find ways in understanding our soul's better, re-connect with purpose and help in its journey. Ask yourself if you still need to be in the race? COVID-19 timeout is a time to re-think, re-align, re-define, re-sculpt, re-set, re-ignite. 

A short video on happiness https://youtu.be/e9dZQelULDk