No matter how powerful, real, and influential they may feel, our hormone-driven urges cannot be left unchecked. The same applies to the politics of our sense of belonging to our groups. In reality, we are each a reflection of the spiritual world. We must create balance from within. Our sense of freedom and personal sense of justice are there to counteract the politics of belonging, which can lead us to become prejudiced and discriminatory. Since we are neither exclusively spiritual nor solely physical entities, we need to balance both aspects to truly live as human beings.
Each of us is blessed with our personal atom of autonomy and related free will to choose and decide, but we must also answer to our inner authority. Our innate compassion, sense of justice, and love help us navigate our spiritual and physical journey toward faith. Not all of us are naturally team players; we also have the ability to function independently. If we let our hormonal responses and the politics of belonging dictate our truths, we may end up at odds with our atom of autonomy. Our spiritual side, or atom of autonomy, can be just as strong as the politics of belonging. Internal conflicts have consequences for us individually. Just ask a war veteran if the politics of belonging have compelled them to commit crimes against others or innocents, leading to guilt and strong negative feelings. This internal struggle, which I consider a real form of hell within our mortal lives, must be acknowledged and understood.
How much and who is truly responsible for our actions? Some might argue that their belonging group is strong and can punish or ostracize them, so they must conform to their religion or nationalism. Regardless of the legitimacy of this claim, we join causes due to internal imbalances and are responsible for our actions. When you examine yourself with your personal sense of justice, you will see that not feeling guilt is a sign of personal weakness. Since we all have an atom of autonomy within us, we cannot simply let our physical side make all our decisions. We are unique entities because we must answer to ourselves, which is why we need to understand what really goes on within us.
If you focus solely on the physical aspects of life, you learn about our animal side—mechanical, technological, scientific, and medical facts. If you explore your spiritual side, you encounter non-physical realities such as compassion, love, sacrifice, forgiveness, guilt, ego, pride, honor, bravery, and even self-worth and self-esteem. Ask yourself: can you live without acknowledging one side or the other? At the end of the day, we are not merely mechanical bodies nor simply spiritual entities. We need to acknowledge our uniqueness and learn to merge and balance both aspects of our knowledge. When we achieve this, we first acknowledge the vastness of our knowledge and then use it to live our mortal years with quality. This personal responsibility should prompt us to question and learn what is necessary to function within ourselves and our social settings. To do justice to ourselves and others, we must become the CEOs of our lives—functioning as real human beings rather than as worker bees, warrior ants, or extensions of group ideology. We need to see our individual and personal truths behind our physical, social, political, and spiritual realities.
Interestingly, it is not the truth itself but our belief in that truth that shapes our personal reality. For millions of years, human societies have grappled with non-physical truths and evolved with imbalances. Nothing gets discovered without pursuit; if we don’t question, we remain stuck at the same level, regardless of time passing. Every culture has segments of the population that believe and disbelieve in strange and unexplained things. Despite our scientific advances, traditions, customs, rituals, and religious rules remain popular. The question is: why? Despite our scientific and technological progress, there are still many who prefer religious beliefs over scientifically repeatable facts. They struggle to see the politics of belonging as a problem. We tend to view life through our personal lenses and follow whatever feels right. Most people do not question their religious beliefs, relying on others to guide them, which is where politics-related problems arise and taint our spirituality.
Our sense of belonging to groups is so powerful that it can affect our hormonal levels. Look at our sports, political parties, nationalism, and religious extremism—these influences can shape behavior. Scientifically, we observe this but may not understand why it happens. Similarly, we struggle to understand and break down non-physical realities like love, compassion, sacrifice, forgiveness, ego, pride, honor, bravery, and even guilt. This is because science often fails to acknowledge the existence of our spiritual side and its non-physical truths. To understand something, we must first acknowledge its existence.
We often reject the existence of certain fields of knowledge and remain stuck in our ways. We view ourselves as merely physical beings and attempt to fix ourselves mechanically rather than addressing the root causes of our problems. By not acknowledging, rejecting, or underestimating the influences of our spiritual side, we may miss out on finding real solutions to problems that stem from spiritual issues.
Simplifying the complex nature of human beings through political lenses can keep us behind and cause us to underestimate the importance of spirituality. We cannot even agree on what it means to be human. If you visit a doctor, they will focus on fixing symptoms rather than addressing underlying causes. Scientifically, we have not fully explored our spiritual nature, and there are aspects within us that remain immeasurable by current scientific knowledge. Religions, on the other hand, often overlook the importance of the individual within the broader spiritual context. They undermine individual humanity for political control, with traditions, customs, rituals, and rules reflecting the politics of belonging. Those who seek to explore beyond the politics of belonging often find themselves entrenched in conflicting philosophies, believing that God favors specific groups rather than humanity as a whole. I strongly disagree with this notion.
As I mentioned, I do not believe in a God who is for some but not for all. I believe that as human beings, we are metaphorical cells of a single entity, which you could call God. Looking at God physically, you see humanity as a whole. If you perceive with spiritual eyes, you will see that God is for all divine cells, not just for some or specific body parts. Claiming God for certain people doesn’t make sense to me because, as humans, we wouldn’t prefer some cells over others within a functioning body. By examining ourselves without political influences and the sense of belonging, we can discover our own spiritual belief systems. There is no need to reject or discredit the religion we were born into to address our spiritual deficiencies.
Imagine this analogy to gain perspective: Picture a brain cell loudly proclaiming that if it were absent, all other cells would die. To someone spiritually illiterate, this might make sense, but before it happens, the heart cell interjects, saying it supplies oxygenated blood for survival. The lung cell adds that it provides oxygen. The skin cell mentions its role in protection from infections. The liver and kidneys talk about their roles in cleaning and filtering. The colon claims it provides essential nutrients. Eventually, God speaks and says that in such a chaotic and bickering environment, He cannot stay. The entire body must function in harmony for God to remain within. If the body cannot function harmoniously, none of the individual cells can contribute to turning spiritual things into physical actions. This analogy highlights the need for collaboration and understanding of both sides. A cell cannot understand the whole body’s workings unless it experiences death, which makes physical existence meaningless.
Discussing existence and being prejudiced or discriminatory is linked to the knowledge we have been given.
Understanding the human spiritual side is a monumental task, yet religions often become mired in group belief systems, living as if they are just a part of the body rather than the whole. This division isn’t necessarily due to spiritual reasons but rather the politics of belonging. Science, preoccupied with creating biological and nuclear weapons, seems more interested in proving religious predictions of doomsday rather than exploring spirituality.
Remember, it’s not the truth itself but your belief in that truth that shapes your personal reality. For many, spiritual truths—such as love, devotion, compassion, passion, guilt, and justice—are more significant than scientifically proven facts. If you don’t explore these spiritual aspects of your soul, you may struggle to trust a teacher who simplifies life to mere equations like 2+2=4.
While numbers are objective facts, they don’t necessarily address the needs of aging mortals. For us, happiness, contentment, and a spiritually fulfilled life are the ultimate truths, even if they cannot be fully understood with our current knowledge. If you live a life focused solely on scientific accuracy but miss out on spiritual fulfillment, you may find yourself unfulfilled. A life without spiritual satisfaction is like a machine—mechanical and unfulfilling.
To experience a truly meaningful life, one must understand mortality and embrace the unknown and unexplained aspects of life where 2+2 no longer equals 4. For instance, our life transitions—moving from weakness to strength and back again—are consistent truths of human existence. These transitions, though simple and widely accepted, point to deeper truths about happiness and contentment.
The challenge arises when we confront the reality of our mortality. If you have always expected life to fit neatly into the equation 2+2=4, you will be disappointed, especially as you age and lose cells you cannot replace. This loss may impact your happiness and contentment, which are the true treasures for mortals. If you rely solely on scientific facts, you risk missing out on spiritual fulfillment.
Understanding God may involve examining yourself. Consider your ten trillion cells and hundred trillion bacteria with millions of genes. The complexity of your being might require more than just scientific explanation; it demands a perspective akin to that of a CEO who comprehends mortality, not just an egotistical viewpoint.
Our quest for understanding God is akin to two cells debating the existence of the body—they lack the perspective to grasp the whole. Just as cells are part of a larger body, we need to recognize the existence of non-physical spiritual realities. Science and religion have both struggled with this, often failing to explore or acknowledge spiritual dimensions fully.
The evolution of human understanding is ongoing. As we continue to learn and discover, it’s clear that we don’t know everything. Debates about the existence of God are similar to cells debating the body’s existence—they lack the capacity to see the bigger picture. Our pursuit of knowledge must include spiritual dimensions, not just scientific facts.
We often reject spiritual exploration due to political influences and preconceived notions. Science may disprove certain religious claims, but this does not necessarily negate the importance of spirituality in our lives. True understanding requires balancing scientific and spiritual insights, recognizing that both contribute to our overall well-being.
Religions and belief systems impact us in ways science cannot always explain. Believing blindly may lead to insights that non-believers miss. Human imagination can transform a simple idea into something profound. Personally, I believe in God not out of fear of hell or desire for heaven but to avoid committing spiritual crimes against others. Belief in God can offer spiritual benefits and help us navigate our lives meaningfully.
Spirituality and politics should remain separate. I may question and disagree with various religious traditions because they often stem from political motives rather than genuine spirituality. True spirituality is about helping humanity and doing God’s work with pure intentions.
Consider how a child finds joy in simple things. While adults chase after happiness and contentment, often without finding it, children experience untainted joy. Our personal life circumstances and hormonal fluctuations can obscure our ability to find spiritual pearls. By clearing the clutter accumulated from societal, parental, and religious influences, we might rediscover pure joy and satisfaction.
Cleaning up mental and emotional clutter is essential. Can you forgive past hurts? Can you face your fears and attachments? Surrendering control and facing these issues may help you reconnect with a childlike joy. It’s not an easy process, but recognizing the temporary nature of our journey can help us let go of unnecessary fears and attachments.
Ultimately, it’s more important to focus on what we seek rather than what we avoid. Embrace the journey of self-discovery, acknowledging that we are not finished products. Our understanding evolves, and so must our approach to spirituality and knowledge. By recognizing the balance between physical and spiritual aspects, we can live more fully and meaningfully.
Quote: “Don’t make unhappiness the goal; avoiding unhappiness is not the road to happiness.”
You can choose to represent your good and bad sides, but accidents can still happen. Does this mean you are responsible for everything you do or what happens in your life? If you wholeheartedly accept that there is room for accidents and mistakes in your life, only then can you address your need for control. Otherwise, each of us will face some kind of dissatisfaction or mess we don’t like. Being mortal requires us to understand what life is all about. If you are terrified of dying, how will you even live? If you expend all your energy avoiding the inevitable, what will you have left to give? Your purpose in life is to reciprocate for the blessings you’ve received. Your oxygen is free, your body functions, and you have an atom of autonomy, which is akin to divine free will. If you think the purpose of your life is merely to pray and fast, who will do the real work for God? Turning spiritual thoughts into physical actions is the job we all have. If you’re seeking untarnished joy, deep spiritual satisfaction, and soul-satisfying happiness, take responsibility to reciprocate in practical ways. Instead of building grand mosques, churches, or temples, help the truly poor, feed the genuinely hungry, or pay your taxes so governments can assist the needy. While it’s important to know how your money is used, avoiding taxes by finding loopholes is not kosher, especially if you’re seeking a fulfilling mortal life. Remember, the politics of belonging may compel you to attend religious places and meet like-minded people. Your intentions may be good, but if your money is used for wrong purposes, you need to ensure it is spent correctly. If your mosques, churches, or temples are grandiose while poverty, hunger, and homelessness prevail, you may be on the wrong path, influenced more by politics than spirituality.
As the CEO of your life, you need to balance all areas. If helping your religious institution is sufficient for you, you might be influenced by a sense of belonging rather than a spiritual purpose. Both senses are extreme, so you must balance them. They are naturally ingrained, but you control and balance them because you are the boss of your life. If others are pulling your strings, it indicates a spiritual deficiency on your part, so put your CEO hat on.
I personally draw the line when it comes to taking risks that harm others or myself in the name of my group. Some might see this as selfish, but I believe it’s about creating balance, taking personal responsibility, and clearing clutter. A strong desire to fit in, impress, or be admired by a group is not a flaw but can lead to harm or spiritual self-destruction if unchecked.
From anorexia and bulimia to drug and alcohol addiction, unhappiness, and spiritual unfulfillment to even suicide, these issues arise when others have too much power over us or when our sense of belonging is out of control. We are fundamentally similar, so it’s not the circumstances but our response to them that matters. An imbalanced individual, unaware of their role as a CEO of their life, may spend their whole life seeking others’ approval, missing out on fulfillment. Seeking security only to find it’s elusive, intellectual disease driven by the need to please can force one to live a life of fitting in, impressing, or seeking admiration without spiritual sense. Some may lose their self-identity, becoming extensions of group ideologies, leading to prejudicial and discriminatory behavior, and committing spiritual crimes. Compassion and respect for oneself and others can help one understand the principle of “live and let live,” which is the spiritual rule of treating others as you wish to be treated.
Since both our internal and external spaces are beyond our control, we should seek our personal reasons for being alive, especially when things are not in our control. We all walk our paths and prefer not to have anyone disturb or end them. Even if things are beyond our control, we should not do to others what we don’t want done to ourselves. This is the spiritual understanding of our free will. When viewing life solely through physical or spiritual lenses, things become murky. A purely physical view reduces human life to mechanical and animalistic terms, minimizing our humanity. Although we evolved from simpler creatures, we have unique treasures, such as our spiritual side, that set us apart. Our imagination and ability to translate thoughts into actions have always been with us. Have you ever wondered where this spiritual “jewelry” came from?
The power of thoughts is evident in our physical responses, from salivation and excitement to increased heart rate from memories or nightmares, highlighting human complexity. Focusing only on physicality simplifies the picture based on our understanding. Even today, the placebo effect remains an unresolved mystery in medical science, showing we still have much to learn. Our progress comes from those who question, whether religious or secular. If a religion preaches not to question and to believe blindly, it creates doubt by keeping individuals irrelevant to maintain political control. With the rapid changes brought about by the internet, questioning is unavoidable, and humanity must adapt. Seeking truth is important, and individuals can benefit from belief systems if they understand that spiritual satisfaction comes from experiencing life as it should be, not from blindly following religious or political doctrines.
Understanding our problems begins with individual actions and concludes with an individual’s expiration. We should focus on the causes and consequences related to the individual. Solutions also lie within the individual. If we view ourselves as CEOs of our lives, we can see, understand, and act according to the politics of belonging to our groups. Recognizing how our political affiliations can reduce us to mere worker bees or warrior ants, shouldn’t we look inward to understand what is happening within ourselves?
As groups, we often fail to overcome our desire to dominate others, including our followers. As long as we have the ammunition of individual blood and the rage of revenge for lost love, things will remain unchanged. The true impact of our disputes is felt and suffered by the individual. When individuals are insecure and politically bombarded with a sense of belonging during their formative years, they have little chance to question the authority of their groups. Especially if they believe they are worthless, unimportant, and irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
The biggest problem is that we are taught to view the world through the political lens of our belonging groups, which inhibits us from looking beyond group politics. Politics often accepts lies and deceitful illusions, making us believe that we are individually irrelevant. In contrast, our spiritual side offers nothing but the truth, affirming that the individual is the most important, meaningful, and relevant part of the grand picture. If we change individually, we can change everything.
The pain of lost love should teach us to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves, which is a spiritual principle. The need for individual growth has never been more urgent. Interestingly, we can outgrow our insecurities and address our problems. To address personal insecurities, we must balance our sense of belonging to our groups with our personal sense of freedom.
Groups strive to secure their followers by emphasizing the group’s importance. However, a group can only offer prayers and cannot prevent illness, aging, or change our mortal nature. Their claim of providing security falls short of reality. We all must come to terms with our mortality to realize that no mortal being can achieve absolute security.
Being used politically, spending a lifetime feeling unimportant, losing self-esteem, and committing spiritual crimes in the name of our groups is a grave human condition. Not accepting personal responsibility for actions and hiding behind the politics of belonging represents a low state of humanity, far below the real human status of a CEO who possesses individual autonomy.
We need to view ourselves through a broader and spiritual lens rather than a narrow political one, as billions of us need to understand our reality. From both physical and spiritual perspectives, our individual importance is crucial to the divine world. Each and every one of us is a vital part of spirituality.