Humans are unique in that we are the only species that can harness and take advantage of energy. Other species only derive energy from the calories they digest. It all started a few million years ago, when by a combination of luck and ingenuity, we figured out how to start and use fire to prepare food (cooked food acts as an external stomach and increases the number of calories we can extract from most otherwise raw food). Fire also provided security at night from predators, moved us away from tropical areas and protected us from the elements. From this simple energy advantage, humans now utilize 26 times* our natural ability in terms of energy consumption. Most of this improvement has been in the last fifty years. Fire, wind, solar, nuclear, tidal and fossil fuel power have become sources of energy. We can do so much more as most of the “heavy lifting” is done using externalized energy sources. What a Pandora’s box of opportunity this has afforded.*
So, what does this have to do with well-stillness and wellness? A little and a lot. The little is to be in awe of how ingenious humans are and how far this energy advantage has benefited us. The bigger issue is to note our energy addiction has become almost chronic and will be very harmful for the wellness of our descendants, especially those not yet born. We are addicted to energy, using more and more and becoming lazier, heavier, greedier and generally not any more content.
This reflection is not about being greener or making our energy footprint smaller, but rather looking within and pondering our energy craving. What is driving this desire? The solution is not improved energy efficiency, but rather better energy effectiveness. What are these needs that are energy dependent? Energy consumption has become part of the solution to meeting our social needs. Social media has indeed increased our connectivity but reduced the depth and sincerity of our engagements and interaction. Things may be faster, bigger, easier and nearer because of energy improvements, but are we meeting or missing our wellness needs?
Being kind, thoughtful, patient, loving and tolerant requires little or no calories. These emotions and actions will have enormous payback and incline us to be more mindful of climate change. Put otherwise, solar and wind power without an improvement in overall wellness may win the battle, but not the war for well-stillness and serenity.
Reflection Source: www.Smallercup.org
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*: Transcendence: How Humans Evolved through Fire, Language, Beauty, and Time by Gaia Vince