Recently I came upon a very interesting article about a very different point of view than has dominated Western thinking for too long. There is now research, “challenging long-held beliefs that human beings are wired to be selfish. In a wide range of studies, social scientists are amassing a growing body of evidence to show we are evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive.”
As a counseling professional this research proves what seems obvious to me but not so obvious to those who seek power and control for the purposes of greed, influence, and political advantage. Of course kindness and compassion are much more powerful for: enhancing relationships, community building, peace making, growing connections with our fellow global citizens, and for making a positive difference in the world.
The old idea of survival of the fittest is about power and rationalizing the need for control. This method, of winning at all cost, is made ok by those that consider being the fittest (ego-mind at work) as their biological imperative. This idea is the driving force behind free market capitalism which steamrolls over the masses. It is the misperception that makes winning the only winners. This false idea of only the fit survive drives the gun fanatics who live in the fear of their own thoughts. The huge build up of bombs and the blindness of nationalism are also products of the need to dominate. Even churches who proclaim they are the only path to God are driven by the ego’s determination to survive through power and numbers.
Isn’t it time we left behind this old and limited point of view that only the fittest survive? Wouldn’t the world be such a better place if kindness and compassion were our guiding forces?
Look around you and see where cooperation and understanding would work better than competition. Image a world were we worked together to solve our problems instead of taking our point of view and shouting it at others. Let’s image that the people in our government actually cooperated with each other for the good of the people more than the good of those seeking power and profits.
If the survival of the fittest remains as a dominating influence humanity will very likely end up destroying itself. If kindness prevails things will change for the better in so many ways. It seems the most important question for humanity and a healthy planet is how do we best grow the forces of kindness and compassion?