Behaving has always been a thing. From childhood tantrums up until those final years of life of senior eccentricity.
In western culture we have substantially moved in how we treat our behaviours. Previously governments and clerics used moral absolutes and the fear of punishment to steer behaviours. A lot of “ought” – do this or that – with a stick of enforcement at the end.
Where are we now? I think we are moving (have moved) into a time of “I can” do this or that. I am going to do this or that. I don’t need permission. Fear of judgment is dismissed.
In saying that I can do this or that, I now am in a place of becoming an entrepreneur of myself. My life is all about building my own person, achieving my own goals. Even spirituality becomes an entrepreneur thing – we now have self-spirituality.
But when the entrepreneur grants themselves limitless freedom, they have created a personal society that intersects with burnout – trying to satisfy themselves. So, instead of listening to sermons they seek self-help. Instead of confession we head straight to therapy. Instead of accepting religious activity we let our bosses and books push us towards fitness, self-care and “becoming a better you.”
And soon our desire to achieve all of this for ourselves (to be our own entrepreneur of ourselves) leads to burnout. We compensate, telling ourselves not to be too hard on ourselves. But our approach to a free life requires that ongoing achievement. To maintain our life, we decide to move into a stupor of uncaring – or more rightly into a paradoxical life – knowing we want freedom and knowing our achievements will never fully reach that point.
IN SUCH A LIFE THERE IS NO MERCY.
If only our society could find mercy. If only we could save ourselves.
(My thanks to Samuel James – Digital Liturgies on Sub-Stack for starting my train of thoughts in this area)