
In a recent conversation, I was asked, “Imagine, if you were alone on an island (and the only human being on the planet), do you think you would have a problem in life?”
I am curious about what you, the reader of this blog, would say! Well, I said yes. While the argument drifted to another topic, this question remained with me, and I thought that maybe the first problem would be boredom! Later I started imagining what it must be like if I never knew anyone else existed and if I was the only one on an island. It would be such a different world!
The question is complex to answer, though, and requires a more philosophical approach. While I felt I may still have problems because of all the emotions that human beings possess and a simple thorn in my foot could have emerged as a problem, the other side argued that since there would have been no one to share that pain in my foot, probably I would not have seen it as a problem. I may have just pulled it out and moved on. Well, that is something to think about!
The argument was that if we do not have an emotional dependency on other human beings, there would probably be no problems! If you consider carefully, everything we do is either for someone, with someone, because of someone, or because of our emotions about someone. For example, our happiness is usually incomplete without sharing it with someone. When we are happy, we immediately want to share it with people who understand us and would share the sentiment. Similarly, a good meal alone may not feel as good unless one is in the company of one’s liking.
Everything we do is about someone else – be it for their acknowledgment, their response, or their reaction. That does make it all sound shallow and futile! So, since our existence is so dependent on others, it is the foundation of expectations and disappointments and, therefore, the cause of all problems.
To that, I believe since human beings have been blessed with ambition, aspiration, and emotions, even if nothing existed, we could have felt there was a problem depending on our primary disposition and nature. Therefore, there is no perfect way to live life and no way to avoid all the emotions we have been born with. It may be best to be aware of how much we let them control our minds. Disappointments emerge from expectations, and the latter arises from our relationship with ourselves and others. Therefore, being self-aware, realistic, and having some self-control may be a better way to gain balance and sail through life. Well, I know it is easier said than done.
What is your take on this? If you were on an island… I am eager to know.