So so good. I appreciated the dopamine tie-in to parenting. I saw someone else mention recently how parenting is one of the few remaining endeavors in life that truly require something intense of of us physically and emotionally - and fewer and fewer have been prepared for such a challenge, if they have have been coddled or self-cocooned in frictionless lives.
Reminds me a bit of this study that links loneliness to political radicalism (https://www.aei.org/articles/the-lonely-political-crowd/). The more entrenched we become in dopamine spikes from our social media echo chambers, the less likely we are to engage with reality, making us lonelier. And the lonelier we get, the more we seek out that dopamine hit that comes from radical obedience to our political tribe.
Yes - this has some overlap with Meador's recent essay which I shared this week: https://mereorthodoxy.com/accumulated-absences as well as Tim Carney's book "Alienated America" - both discuss how the collapse of civic life and deep institutional and relational bonds have created groups of people who look for what is lacking in politics. There's certainly overlap with the digital forms of these bonds, too.
Could the term “normal mental anguish” also be thought of as everyday challenges, physical and emotional? The work of overcoming obstacles, normally (at least historically?) a near constant experience in daily life, accompanied by painful effort that eases with practice, is what the new world beamed to us on screens seems to avoid: we can have it all, the satisfaction of accomplishment, without any pain. It's an illusion, a lie of Satan, that human nature is too willing to believe: we can avoid the effects of the curse and have heaven on earth. (And when a society of individuals is living for pleasure like this, it leads to civic/cultural ruin. The once-great Roman Empire fell after its citizens became content to be provided with bread and circuses.)
These concepts can be found in Genesis 3, the Curse that immediately followed our first parents’ “Fall” into sin: rather than pleasant gardening in a perfect environment, work would entail sweat and toil for the man, and sorrow in childbearing for the woman: hard labor for both. The work itself isn't the curse to be avoided. Parenting is indeed the greatest work, because the continuation of life is our ultimate hope, which makes all our work worth it.
Thanks to the author for this helpful and important article.
the only problem is that commitment and love seldom come with control and submission. This is what therapists see in their clients' complaints. This non-commited zen state is, in many situations, healthier than the bondage of love (sadly).
So so good. I appreciated the dopamine tie-in to parenting. I saw someone else mention recently how parenting is one of the few remaining endeavors in life that truly require something intense of of us physically and emotionally - and fewer and fewer have been prepared for such a challenge, if they have have been coddled or self-cocooned in frictionless lives.
That's so true. Right there with you.
beautiful
So good!
Reminds me a bit of this study that links loneliness to political radicalism (https://www.aei.org/articles/the-lonely-political-crowd/). The more entrenched we become in dopamine spikes from our social media echo chambers, the less likely we are to engage with reality, making us lonelier. And the lonelier we get, the more we seek out that dopamine hit that comes from radical obedience to our political tribe.
Thanks so much for this, Ian! 🙌
Yes - this has some overlap with Meador's recent essay which I shared this week: https://mereorthodoxy.com/accumulated-absences as well as Tim Carney's book "Alienated America" - both discuss how the collapse of civic life and deep institutional and relational bonds have created groups of people who look for what is lacking in politics. There's certainly overlap with the digital forms of these bonds, too.
This is GOOD. 😌
🙏
Could the term “normal mental anguish” also be thought of as everyday challenges, physical and emotional? The work of overcoming obstacles, normally (at least historically?) a near constant experience in daily life, accompanied by painful effort that eases with practice, is what the new world beamed to us on screens seems to avoid: we can have it all, the satisfaction of accomplishment, without any pain. It's an illusion, a lie of Satan, that human nature is too willing to believe: we can avoid the effects of the curse and have heaven on earth. (And when a society of individuals is living for pleasure like this, it leads to civic/cultural ruin. The once-great Roman Empire fell after its citizens became content to be provided with bread and circuses.)
These concepts can be found in Genesis 3, the Curse that immediately followed our first parents’ “Fall” into sin: rather than pleasant gardening in a perfect environment, work would entail sweat and toil for the man, and sorrow in childbearing for the woman: hard labor for both. The work itself isn't the curse to be avoided. Parenting is indeed the greatest work, because the continuation of life is our ultimate hope, which makes all our work worth it.
Thanks to the author for this helpful and important article.
Hi Susan,
Yes, that's exactly what I have in view here.
Really good piece. This awareness is so important.
Such a good read. Thanks, Ian!
Thanks Erika! Hope y'all are doing well!
the only problem is that commitment and love seldom come with control and submission. This is what therapists see in their clients' complaints. This non-commited zen state is, in many situations, healthier than the bondage of love (sadly).