Posted by The Horror of Life
There’s something I’ve come to know as the horror of life. It’s not something people like to talk about and you almost never hear anything about it until someone you know or love is face to face with it.
It’s like a demon in the shadows of our light. As we embark on our journey through life with ambition and hope and desire and pursuit of personal development, it’s easy to forget and much more comfortable to imagine it’s not there.
What is the Horror or Life?
I’ll try and explain it here. Nothing you have is guaranteed. Your whole world can shatter in an instance. Imagine suddenly losing your job or someone you love. It’s terrible to think about but it happens. There’s no status you can reach that makes you immune. You are human, you are alive, and it’s part of life.
I recently saw this up close when a friend of mine suddenly got laid off. I feel that deep inner uneasiness. What if that was me I wonder? What if it were you?
At the end of the day, we all live in a world where if you loose your income, no one is going to magically give you what you need. Or if you lose someone in your life who gives you support or purpose, no one can magically bring them back. You fall into desperation and fear. This is the horror of life.
Be grateful for everything and everyone you have in life. Nothing is promised. There is a horror when things shatter. It’s our basic need of security and it’s at the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Far from the top where we seek self-actualization and personal development.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
In fact, as we live in these upper zones, it’s easy to imagine that nothing will ever happen. It’s easy to ignore the horror. Our tendency to ignore the horror is why it’s so incredibly impactful when it happens. This is why we need to be aware, to do what we can to prepare and not to be blindsided when it happens.
If you are aware of this, or have seen it in your life, you are stronger for it. It’s more common than we’d like to admit and if you are honest with yourself then you have probably seen the horror fist hand or through someone you know. If not, just take a good look at the next homeless person you see. They weren’t always that way.
This is something that I’ve recently become painfully aware of and I know when there is pain there opportunity for growth. We shouldn’t ignore or pretend the horror isn’t real. It’s always there, lurking in the shadows.
Closing
I hope that if you are more mindful of the horror that you can do better to avoid it, or at least better handle it when it comes. The lesson here is to always be grateful and appreciate all the blessings in your life.
Have you seen the horror? – How did you handle it? – How do you handle it?
I hope this post inspires you to be grateful for the treasures in your life. There is power in gratitude. If you enjoyed this post, please like and subscribe for more Real Thoughts!