Monthly Archive

Is the World Getting Dumber? How to Reverse the Decline!

Look around, and it’s hard not to feel that something has gone wrong. Attention spans are shrinking, critical thinking is in decline, and social cohesion is unravelling. People seem more distracted, more divided, and less capable of rational discussion than ever before. Is it just an illusion, or is there something real behind this trend? More importantly, if we recognize the problem, can we do anything about it?

A large part of the issue lies in what we consume—both physically and mentally. The food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink all have profound effects on our cognitive abilities and emotional stability. Ultra-processed foods filled with additives, excessive sugar, and artificial ingredients do more than just expand waistlines—they impact brain function, attention spans, and mood regulation. Meanwhile, environmental pollutants, from microplastics in our water to chemicals in household products, are linked to neurological damage and cognitive decline.

However, the problem extends beyond just physical health. What we consume mentally is just as important, if not more so. Our culture is drowning in shallow distractions—clickbait headlines, algorithm-driven outrage, and an endless stream of trivial entertainment. Social media, once a tool for connection, now fuels division and hostility. Instead of deep, meaningful discussions, we get soundbites and slogans. The education system, rather than fostering curiosity and independent thought, often prioritizes conformity and rote learning, leaving many people ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern world.

Yet, if we’re heading in the wrong direction, what would it take to turn things around? Change isn’t easy, but it is possible. Here are some key areas that need urgent attention:

1. Food and Health Consciousness – We must reclaim control over what we eat and drink. Prioritizing whole, natural foods over processed junk, drinking clean water, and reducing exposure to harmful chemicals can have a significant impact on cognitive function and emotional well-being.

2. Digital Discipline – Reducing screen time, questioning the narratives pushed by mainstream and social media, and cultivating real-world connections instead of virtual ones can help restore clarity of thought and emotional stability.

3. Reviving Critical Thinking – Education must move beyond memorization and test scores. We need a renewed emphasis on logic, philosophy, and debate—skills that enable people to think independently rather than merely regurgitate opinions they’ve absorbed from questionable sources.

4. Rebuilding Social Cohesion – Strengthening local communities, engaging in face-to-face conversations, and fostering genuine relationships can counteract the increasing sense of isolation and division that plagues modern society.

5. Rejecting Fear and Division – Political and corporate interests thrive on keeping people fearful and divided. Recognizing and resisting these manipulative tactics is essential. We must prioritize truth over ideology and human connection over tribalism.

6. Personal Responsibility – Ultimately, the most meaningful change starts at the individual level. Each of us has the power to choose what we consume, how we think, and how we engage with the world around us. Small, conscious choices—reading thoughtful books instead of doom-scrolling, cooking real food instead of eating fast food, engaging in deep conversations instead of superficial arguments—can add up to real transformation.

History shows that civilizations decline when they lose touch with wisdom, community, and personal responsibility. If we continue on our current path, the consequences will likely be severe. But if enough people make conscious choices to reject mindless consumption—both physical and mental—we might be able to turn the tide.

And that leads to the final question: What are you doing to improve the situation in your life?

I Am My Own Worst Enemy – Breaking Free from Fear and Arrogance

There’s a quiet war inside me. A battle between what I know and what I suspect, and what I pretend not to see. It’s easier that way—avoiding contradictions, turning my head away from uncomfortable truths. I tell myself it’s self-preservation, but deep down, I know it’s just fear.

We avoid many contradictions: we'd rather not look too closely because it would make us feel bad, or stupid, or helpless. I get it. I’ve done it. I do it still. It’s far easier to ride the wave of habit than to step into the unknown and question everything. Because if I question too much, I might be forced to change my life.

And change is terrifying.

I look at myself sometimes and think, why are you like this? Why do I resist what I know would make me better? I hold myself back, clip my own wings, build my own prison. Behind the handcuffs of the past, I stay locked in old patterns, bound by invisible restraints that I alone reinforced over the years. I act as if the keys are lost, but I know exactly where they are. I just don’t always have the courage to reach for them.

Maybe it’s because part of me still clings to the arrogance of the know-it-all. That sneaky little voice that whispers, You already understand everything. You’ve figured it out. You don’t need to rethink things. I have a complicated relationship with that voice. It makes me feel secure, wise even—but I know better. I know that certainty can be a trap, that wisdom is fluid, and that arrogance is often just insecurity in disguise. Still, I let it comfort me when I don't feel like doing the hard work of re-evaluating.

But I’m not alone in this. Politicians are perhaps the greatest victims of this fear-based illusion, believing that with the right policies, controls, and manoeuvres, they can manage the world. Their arrogance, wrapped in a false sense of order, blinds them to reality. They manipulate, legislate, and dictate, thinking they hold the answers, while the world they attempt to control continues to unravel. In their pursuit of power, they refuse to acknowledge their own contradictions, their own failures, their own fears. And yet, they convince themselves they are the saviours.

But then, inevitably, something cracks through. A moment of clarity. A reminder that I don’t want to be a prisoner to my own fears, to my own arrogance, to my past. I want to be free, even if that means dismantling everything I thought I knew.

I am my own worst enemy, but I can also be my own liberator. And that’s where the real battle lies—not in the outside world, not in other people, not in circumstances beyond my control. Just in me. Facing myself, questioning myself, unlearning the things that keep me stuck. Choosing courage over comfort.

I don’t always win. But I keep fighting.

The Rising Tide of Stupidity: A Reflection on Modern Society

It feels like stupidity is on the rise everywhere I look. By stupidity, I don’t just mean a lack of intelligence or understanding, but something deeper—a failure to connect, to reason, to see the bigger picture. It’s as though we’re collectively losing our ability to work together, to respect one another, and to appreciate the miracle of being alive. Instead, society seems to be fracturing, becoming more extreme, more antisocial, and more focused on division than unity.

I’ve always believed that teamwork is the cornerstone of success. Whether in management courses or life lessons, the message is clear: when we harmonize our different skills and perspectives, we can achieve something greater—something that benefits everyone. But that’s not what I see happening today. Instead, I see a world where individuals, groups, and even nations are locked in a perpetual competition to outdo one another. It’s not just about nations at war (though those conflicts persist); it’s about the everyday battles between genders, families, neighbours, and social classes. It’s exhausting.

I often think of Juvenal’s ancient quote: “Give them bread and circuses, and they will never revolt.” Today, the “revolt” isn’t against oppressive rulers but against each other. We’re too busy striving to be “better” than the next person, too distracted by the endless noise of modern life to see the bigger picture. Media plays a huge role in this. It feeds us a constant diet of negativity—wars, scandals, outrage, and conflict. Yes, there are great documentaries and thoughtful programs, but they’re drowned out by reality shows glorifying outrageous behaviour, action films that portray violence as a solution, and dramas that focus on humanity’s darkest impulses. The message is clear: conflict sells.

And it’s not just on TV. It’s everywhere. Simple acts of courtesy and respect—holding a door, saying thank you, caring for our environment—seem to be disappearing. Instead, we’re increasingly focused on the negative. We’re glued to screens, escaping into endless games and online worlds where we don’t even have to face the consequences of our actions. War itself has moved online, fought with drones and missiles, where the enemy is faceless, and the human cost is abstract.

What saddens me most is how we’re missing the point of being alive. Life is a miracle, a fleeting opportunity to connect, create, and enjoy the world together. Yet, instead of cherishing this gift, we’re squandering it on petty differences and manufactured conflicts. We’re so focused on what divides us—gender, race, politics, wealth—that we forget what unites us: our shared humanity.

I wish we could step back and see the bigger picture. We have the potential to achieve so much if we could just learn to work together, to respect one another, and to focus on what truly matters. But that requires a shift in perspective—one that values cooperation over competition, kindness over cruelty, and hope over despair.

It’s not easy, and I don’t have all the answers. But I do know this: life is too short to waste on stupidity. We owe it to ourselves and to each other to do better. To see the commonality in our shared humanity, to celebrate the good, and to work toward a world where the “greater good” isn’t just an ideal but a reality. It starts with each of us, one small act of kindness at a time.