Is there such a thing as too much abundance? In our current society it seems the answer is no!, especially if we refer to things we dream of, like or pursue, such as wealth, happiness, luck, fulfilment, health, or success. Who in their right mind would seek less happiness, misfortune? Excess sounds good!
Excess means overabundance, lack of moderation, while deprivation represents absence, not having enough. Unconsciously, excess has both positive and negative connotations depending on one’s own experience, while deprivation is usually associated with something negative.
We live in a world where excess balances out with deprivation, and vice-versa; neither is good nor bad, they simply happen. It is advisable for us humans to understand when our life’s dial is leaning towards one or the other, as to react accordingly, looking for balance. We have the brains to know that living in either end have consequences for us and for others.
If we are not capable of finding balance by ourselves the world will find it for us, whether we like the result or not.
Bacteria play an essential function in our body, from helping degrade the food we eat, to protecting us against infections. Bacterial overgrowth in our small intestine can cause chronic diarrhea, malabsorption, nutritional deficiencies, and osteoporosis, but the lack of it can wreak havoc in our systems as well: “…a reduction in gut flora diversity have been linked to insulin resistance, weight gain, inflammation, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer”. We may not be able to anticipate the malfunction of some processes that naturally occur in our colon, but we can control our behaviour and manage our level of stress, sleep patterns, what and how we eat to therefore maintain healthy gut bacteria, etc.
Depending on the geographic location, heavy rainfalls can lead to flooding resulting in loss of human lives and property, and infrastructure damage, destruction of crops, loss of livestock, or increased risk of waterborne diseases. On the other hand, drought leads to water-supply issues, higher incidents of heat stroke, [also] loss of human life, and a substantial increase in wildfires. We are a civilization that cannot [yet] control the weather, but we can control our actions and behaviour that highly contribute to the changing weather patterns. Deforestation can lead to climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, and (ironically) flooding.
Every time we move to either extreme of having in excess, or deprivation of something there are consequences, sometimes irreversible.
· Sleeping in excess can increase the risk heart disease and stroke — Sleep deprivation leads to high blood pressure and diabetes.
· Drinking water in excess may result in water poisoning or a disruption of brain function — Not drinking enough water can cause dehydration and dry skin.
· Hanging out only with like-minded people creates groupthink, which in turn can lead to toxic culture environments and cults — Frequent engagements with people who disagree with you increase levels of stress and can also lead to destructive behaviour.
· Excessive amounts of trust could lead to disappointment — A population’s loss of trust leads to chaos and constant conflict.
Do you know what the recommended amount of sleep is or when your individual body needs water? Are you aware of how much you are influenced by the people with whom you hang out, or what you are missing from not interacting with a more diverse group; are you being taken advantage of for blindly trusting others?, or are you of the kind who constantly counter argue everything.
Why is it so difficult for us to live in balance with ourselves and with the world around us?
Around the world we find wealthy neighbourhoods, with expensive mansions, many times only blocks away from poverty and slums. There is excess in the use of power by countries and people in leadership roles, leading to lack of trust from citizens and employees. Hundreds of animal species are already extinct or in danger, while humans are spreading throughout the planet in a termite-like infestation.
We have the ability to balance things out, but our egoistic behaviours, and everything that comes along with them serve as blinkers that narrow our vision away from what is best for us all, a constant disregard of anything and everybody else.
Far too often, our excess comes at the expense of someone else’s deprivation.
A balance between excess and deprivation is achieved when we become aware of our own egoistic actions, and work hard towards managing them (understanding ego from its Latin root, as “I”). But managing our egos is a balancing act in itself, which requires constant practice, and patience.
Beware of ego! Praising too much who we are, what we have done, what we know, where we are from etc., may lead to a socially-destructive sense of superiority, entitlement, over-confidence, stubbornness, disregard for others, obsessive behaviour and so on. On the other hand, being deprived of one’s awareness may end up in harsh self-criticism, anxiety, and depression.
The key word to finding the tight tune between excess and deprivation is “enough”. Enough is the high bar we should strive to reach.
From an excess perspective (i.e. with an egoistic lens) there is never enough: the more, the merrier, they say. More food than we individually need [or can even eat], more clothing, more cars, more properties, more status, more power, more, more, more. From a deprivation point of view, one may not have enough to survive; insufficient water or food to eat, feet without shoes, failure to fulfil the basic needs, lack of support, not enough love or understanding.
The question to ask is: What is your balanced enough? If you can’t find the answer, then ask yourself why, what are you failing to fulfil… is it your ego?
If you live with excess, take the time to look around you, see the deprivation in others, and focus your energy on giving; then, perhaps, you will find true fulfilment in life.
CAPER
