Capitalism vs. Spirit
This time period during the COVID19 pandemic has disrupted our capitalist society, which functions on the constant, never-sleeping grind of industry. With a forced pause, we’ve been given this rare opportunity to step outside of societal constructs. I’ve noticed a new perspective coming in for many on an individual, communal, and hopefully societal level.
Capitalism functions on the premise that we the people will work hard and be productive to keep the system running. It survives on the underlying assumption of not enough. As long as we each believe that we’re not inherently good enough as we are, we’ll continue to buy more stuff to try to fill that hole.
This system also thrives on the belief that we must work hard and be productive in order to be worthy. In order to be a deserving human being we’ve got to sacrifice and work ourselves into the ground and grind away. Capitalism couldn’t function without us all buying into this belief. It’s so ingrained that for most people our entire sense of our value as a human is based on how hard we work.
When the system comes to an abrupt halt, our view is shaken. A different paradigm comes into view.
I’m hearing people say every day:
Wow I’ve never been happier even though I’m unemployed and not being productive or working.I’ve never had such a chance to just live life and enjoy the little moments.
I’ve always thought of myself as very career driven, but with this break I’m starting to question where that identity came from.
Even after this is all over I don’t want to continue to work as much as I used to - I don’t want to be stressed with no time for myself.
I see people standing in food lines, and just because they can’t work doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to eat.
So you’re saying, even if a person isn’t working and isn’t productive, they still deserve to eat?? They still deserve to live?? Well if that’s true, then where does that deservingness come from? What makes someone worthy?
The capital T Truth is that we are inherently worthy, just because we are alive. Just because you are a human being on this earth, you are already worthy. Life itself is precious. You are precious living being. You are worthy just as you are, with nothing to prove. As we disrupt the system and question the beliefs we’ve been fed by society, we can start to tap into our inherent value and worthiness.
As we sense that our own worthiness is inherent in who we truly are, we can rest. We can slow down. We can recognize that our purpose is not to grind away our lives to make a profit for others until we’re laying on our death beds wondering where life went. And interestingly enough, when we rest, allow ourselves to be present, soak in the warm sun or the cool rain, enjoy life moment to moment, live in appreciation and gratitude and joy - we may just become inspired to share our gifts with the world.
From that place of already worthy, we may naturally become attuned to our bigger purpose. We can become a channel for inspiration to flow through so that we may live life on purpose and in service.
This is the radical nature of recognizing our inherent worth. This is the opportunity we have at this unique moment in history. What we will do with this chance?