Another dark night? Eyes fixed on that glowing screen as you dig into the internet looking for something, anything, that will give your life meaning? You probably think you have found it, but you haven’t. That screen is entertaining, informative, and at times socially invigorating with friends; but it’s also full of evil, fake stuff, especially the stuff that talks about your mind and seeks to take control of you.
Anjani is a high-school senior who lives in an area where—like many other areas around the country—the local school board, parents, and politicians are dictating educational policies without providing for input from teachers and students. Examples would be banning certain books from the high-school library, what courses should be offered by the school, and even deciding what teachers are allowed to say in the classroom. In a letter to the local newspaper, Anjani writes about “an alarming trend of academic censorship and a lack of student representation” that precludes input from students. Anjani says that students must “express their concerns, unite, and actively participate in discussions on educational policies. The objective is clear: Students must play a central role in shaping their academic journey.”
A basic tenet of psychology is that when you see yourself engaging in an activity, you incorporate that activity, and its accompanying values, into your self-concept. Read that opening paragraph again. When you see yourself isolated, alone, full of despair and self-criticism (“I’m such a loser.”), and accept all that fake internet stuff, you define your self-concept in those ways. On the other hand, if you act like Anjani—when you interact with real others, and do so with purpose and meaning—you will endow your self-concept with commitment and worth; you will arm yourself to cope successfully with the stressors and challenges that face you.
Keep that fundamental principle in mind next time you struggle with yourself. Satisfaction and personal discovery are found in face-to-face interaction with others. Not with everyone, of course. There are those out there who would use you and dominate you to compensate for their own insecurities. That is why you must seek out those who can be trusted, others like you who are looking for genuine, honest, and honorable interactions. Find them in your daily activities, your real face-to-face experiences, and pursue with them goals endowed with purpose and commitment. Forgo the false images on your computer screen. Your smart devices may show you the science of how images appear on the screen, but they won’t show you how to critically evaluate the portrayals you see; they won’t show you how to navigate through life’s challenges. You are accountable for choosing productive life paths.
Psychology and Stress 