#37
From the beginning of time, we have understood that having the support of others gives us better chances of surviving.
Many centuries ago when humans were living in nature, together with all predators from the animal kingdom, having the help of others meant that they were protected in the absolute worst case scenario of an attack (or a natural disaster).
Today living in the towers of the city and working to innovate in a world that’s consumed by an “always on” state of mind, having the help of others means that we can switch off our logical brain and return to our emotional side as a way protect our well-being through balance (what we refer to as work-life balance).
The challenges we face have changed, but the motivation remains the same – staying alive.
Cue “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees.
Some things will never change, of course.
We love being of service, whether it’s to provide safety for our family, comfort for our friends or solutions for our company (and the world).
We also love to be in a position of control. A little too much.
This results in working excessive hours, because work provides us with a structure that is easy to follow and “own”.
This also results in getting stuck in the comfort zone, because once you know your limits, you can get really good at them and avoid entering situations that might make you look bad in the eyes of others.
And finally this results in creating internal narratives that your current life is “as good as life can get”, because all of your experiences match that statement – so you remain in a vicious cycle of your own doing (until you decide to change the narrative).
But, wait, the question was… why do we enjoy helping each other?
Well, on some level, we understand all of this.
Even if we can’t put it into words, we put it into action.
We help each other by:
making one another laugh
showing up for others in difficult moments and in moments of joy
listening to stories of success, doubt, fear and heartbreak
doing things together (especially when the first step feels impossible)
encouraging one other during periods of growth and grief
standing up for one another in moments of injustice and bullying
We enjoy helping each other, because we’ve been doing it since the beginning of time.
Those who jump into wars and conflicts have simply forgotten the power of togetherness, driven to own the ultimate power against all predators.
But here’s the thing – we no longer live among the predators.
We have built towers* to protect us and help us collaborate even when we’re based remotely. It’s just the brain of our ancestors that gives us the signal that there’s danger near us. The real danger’s in our thoughts: the narrative that we believe in by telling it repeatedly.
*towers = all buildings: houses, bungalows, castles, schools, gyms, igloos, etc
