|
I REVISITED a book recently—James Redfield’s Celestine
Prophecies. Though criticized from various sides, it became popular
because it allegedly revealed the state and direction of human
beings for what was then the next millennium. Now that we are in the
midst of that “next millennium,” it’s useful to review its
insights.
The book tells of nine insights about man’s
spiritual revolution. The sixth insight is how we compete with each
other over energy—chi or life force.
Why do we compete for it? According to
traditional Chinese medicine, lacking it would reflect in weak
health as well as emotional lows, insecurity, a sense of
helplessness insignificance.
People go through some kind of emotional drama
trying to get the attention, emotional validation or chi energy from
others. An example of this are those emotional vampires who make
others feel spent after talking to them.
The control dramas come in four categories:
1. “Poor me” control drama: People play the
victim and appealing for sympathy. We give energy to this drama by
feeling bad for the person and taking the person’s side. It’s
the opposite of positive thinking.
2. “Aloof” control drama: It’s like having
an air of mystery about oneself and using that “mystery” to get
the attention, wonder, curiosity of people around them. It’s a
certain snobbishness which seems to say “I am above you all.”
3. “Interrogator” control drama: People ask
a lot of questions and pronounce judgements on others. They are
critical, self righteous, questioning all the time, sarcastic,
sceptical and even undermining.
4. “Intimidator” control drama: People
threaten and instill fear to get energy. Violence is often
accompanied by this drama.
Psychologists, counsellors and therapists may
agree, validate or point out its limitations. Regardless,
Redfield’s book made quite a stir, because of its simple
categorization of people’s actions.
Redfield’s explanation of why we resort to
control dramas is just as interesting. One is that we inherited the
dramas from our parents, families maybe even culture. He further
notes that we adapt drama in our lives because of early childhood
trauma.
It’s only human to have the control dramas
once in a while. But having them as a basic default in the way we
relate to each other may pose a problem not just for us, but also
for the next generation. These “dramas” that we go through are
what we as a generation will pass on.
Redfield’s concept of human evolution is not
about changes in the human genetic code. It’s about changes in
humanity’s social and spiritual awareness. The dramas serve as a
hurdle that humanity has to “transcend” to take the next step in
evolution.
Our own Filipino culture what control drama do
you think is most prevalent? Let’s think about it, reflect on it,
but let’s not be too dramatic about what we find out about
ourselves.
|
