In ‘Wishing for another reality’ I had sought to explain the phenomenon of individuals seeking to escape the reality that we know. I spoke of the short-falls within reality that drives individuals to seek to escape it. It is now time to look at a slightly different question. Is escape the only avenue open to those who feel that they are unable to stomach reality?
This is where one brings one’s ideology to mind. One thing that is certain is that individuals who would seek to escape this reality have a significantly different ideology in mind. They would not seek to escape reality if reality were ideal.
One might turn around and suggest that it is not reality that ought to be held responsible for any shortcomings but the individuals who would seek to escape it. There is truth in this and it is not unusual for there to be a degree of unreasonableness in the ideals held by individuals. Then again, that does not follow that the entirety of an individual’s ideals are unreasonable. One would also suggest that the sheer number of individuals who find themselves on paths of escapism in itself suggests that reality is far from blameless in this affair.
Of course Path Forger is not about the attribution of blame. Indeed, it is almost useless laying blame on an entity as vast as reality and it is no doubt possible to pinpoint elements within reality that are just more accountable for shortcomings than others. And these elements can be tackled.
This brings me back to the original question. What alternative is there to seeking to escape reality? Is seeking to escape even an option? Will burying the self in books, movies and games help us? Will indulging in a constant stream of food? What of drinking the self silly or experimenting with drugs? While such may offer temporary relief from the drudgery of reality, it is a little like holding your breath - you would find yourself resurfacing again and again to breath in the pungent air that you seek to escape.
There are other ways. One could try to exploit the shortcomings of reality - these tend to live on the wrong side of the law… but then again… what if they are individuals merely tired of escapism? That thought aside, that is one possibility.
Another possibility is to face reality - to take it in and to seek to change it. This is by no means a simple task. There are many vested interests in the reality which we know, including those aspects that lead individuals to seek to flee it, so any notion of change is destined to meet resistance. Unfortunate a case as this may be, it remains more purposeful an approach than the other approaches mentioned. In the face of adversity one must rise up to the occasion with an egotistical humbleness - egotistical enough to follow through but ever humble enough to re-evaluate one’s own position. After all, not all changes to reality are necessarily for the better. That is why a certain degree of discipline, determination and genuity are required.
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