Pilot Base
III Physical/Mental Health base
Observation:
When considering the vast,
worldwide, needs in this critical “base for human advancement”, the disparities
between people “most physically healthy”
and people who are “least physically healthy” is striking. But these disparities
do not always occur along definitive “ lines” (i.e. economics: [“haves” vs. “have
nots”]). Obviously, such issues play
huge roles in an individual’s ability to provide for health needs, whether it
be in areas of “prevention” or “patient care”… but, considering immediate,
existing, priorities, it would appear
that “health care” needs in “developed countries”, are nearly as great
as those of “undeveloped areas”…those needs are just very different. On the
other hand, when people with very little resources are truly in dire need, the
serious disparity becomes apparent! Just, exactly, where priorities lie, in
such examples, is not a question that can always (or easily) be answered; however
it remains for each of us, as individuals, to exert ourselves where we can be
most effective.
Whenever we find
ourselves able to contribute to efforts worthy of our assistance, it is the
time to do what we can. Even if that assistance must begin at an
“infinitesimally” tiny level, and can only be directed in a narrow “window”, continued efforts can
reap positive results! We hope that is
how this project can find ways to be useful.
While economically developed people, now, have a decent amount of “basic
material/logistical support (and better communication abilities), such progress
has not come without considerable undesirable
consequences. These are not always
obvious to us, as individuals, as we go along.
With improved “human
communication” between people in regular
contact with each other (also,
nations and communities), those consequences become more apparent and the
solutions more clear.
Suggestions for Improving Health of Economically Developed Peoples
The following is
based upon the fact that we human beings are “physiological beings”…that anything impacting physical well
being is, at the same time, influencing mental well
being. Of course, the reverse is, also,
true.
Economically
developed peoples do, at this time (for the most part) enjoy considerable,
basic support systems to help them with their physical health needs; therefore,
we have decided to put our emphasis on “mental health”, for now.
Mental Health in “More Advanced Societies”
Good mental
health has much to do with “how” our
minds work, in light of “what” they
are trying to deal with. Poor mental
health can lead to poor actions, on the part of those afflicted. This, in turn,
has a negative effect on society as a whole; but, more specifically, on
individuals they have come into contact with. Such promulgation (effecting many, badly) may be, somewhat, tempered, by the positive influences of others, but it would be much better if the bad contact
could have been avoided, in the first place.
People in good mental health
think more clearly and stay better focused on improving their lives. For instance, they see more that can be done. That, in itself, is a motivating factor.
Others (with poor ability to see clearly) fail to see far ahead. Their focus may be captivated by unimportant thoughts, merely, because of ease/proximity.
The most important
effect of weak mental health lies in
the further
damage that will be done. For example:
Failure to see clearly may cause one to avoid contact with other
people because many are (wrongfully)
seen as “enemies”, thus establishing
an ill-conceived avoidance of
“potential allies” (if not outright “hostility”)!...and, lack of alliances
could encourage formation of “inappropriate alternative alliances” (poor company).
The preceding passages should be
an argument for improved communication between people.
Need for Better Human Communication
Throughout history, communication
has been a primary need. Tools, for
communication, have been improving, and, through
development of related technology (in more recent years, as
a result of the increased flow of ideas), we may consider ourselves
to be living in the “Age of Information”!
Along with strong, ever improving ability to build
“logistical” support, around us, it would appear that the human race stands on the threshold of a new kind of world! Yes…great things will
happen...because we want them to!
Unfortunately, there remain many obstacles
to such progress…most, with their roots
in the very “way we think”. What
might we do to improve our own personal “levels”
of mental health?
As was alluded to, earlier, any
significant improvement in anyone’s mental health will yield
benefits to society (not to mention that person and their immediate associates). If we can pinpoint
just a few of the most “needful”
areas, in the realm of “mental health”, we might be able to contribute to the
betterment of human kind!
These thoughts led
us to an “in-depth” search for the
very most important and “imminent” (mental
health) needs, we could find. In the
process, we found that, to do this very effectively, required considerable
personal insight. Efforts to gain
such insight led to the creation of the “Memory Project”.
Since many of the contributions to this
work were made by individuals with some “proclivity”
to “intellectualize”, there
was strong motivation to, improve on our
ability to think clearly, to focus, and to organize our thoughts. That resulted
in an awareness of a need for some
improvement in our memory abilities. We
attempted a comparison between our current “recall” abilities and general state of “memory
health” with past such abilities. That was met with difficulty…perhaps, largely, because doing so required “good memory” just to begin to envision how a past “state” might compare with
our present one! This “ability”,
having come into question, therefore, became a prime candidate for our serious attention…we had embarked upon the “Memory Project”.
A while, later,
development of that work led us to reflect on just “how “ memory is established,
whether intentionally (consciously) or unintentionally (unconsciously). It was noted that in both cases, deeply
imbedded “habits” played a vital
role. They, constantly, affected “what
we did”, “how we did it”, “when”, and “how
we thought about it”. Those habits were influencing our direction…influencing how we would react
to particular situations…(and in what
ways)! It appears to be quite
true that we are (hugely) “creatures of habit”!
It follows that “good habits” are, largely, good for us while the bad are, for the most part, bad. Closer
analysis of “habits” made us more and more aware of parallels, existing, between “good habits” and “bad ones”. The “
Habits” project was, first, intended to lead to the creation of a
“help” tool for the establishment of “good personal habits”. The creation of such habits can provide
a certain “foundation” for “personal
progress”, as well as a “reference
point” to be used to compare with other habits (those better, less useful,
and those quite bad). Later, we made
attempts to look at “bad habits”,
but (as you might imagine) seemed to be opening up a virtual “Pandora’s Box” of bad
possibilities that was almost overwhelming!
Just to begin to compare the formation of good habits with the (development/established)
reality of habits so grotesque as some (we hate to even think of) would appear
to be an attempt to indecently, and grossly “oversimplify” one of the most serious issues people have to
deal with, today. At the same time,
basic, underlying facts remain. There is a basis for comparison.
Habits
The concept of “habits” forming a base for both thought and
action can be seen to play a dominant, impressive role in our lives…and,
therefore, is deserving of some attention. Thoughts on this subject were
considerable, but, gradually, we began to form a very rough “outline”, that was
to be useful for future “examination”.
To date, the
undertaking is in its very “ infancy”. It may not offer much of
value to many; however, it is introduced,
here, in the hope that it may be of some use to someone.
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