Dissonance
Dissonance: A general feeling that a chord within is not in harmony with others and wants to play its own tune.
There are periods in our journey across space and time when the psyche is permeated by an undefinable sense of unease. It is a feeling of dissonance bordering on a visceral sensation that something is not right.
Lying awake at three in the morning, seeds of dissonance suddenly sprout, and triggers could be many. They could be the vague feeling that something is out of place, or they could be an emerging sense of no longer knowing what the heck we are doing, and why.
Or the trigger could be a growing realization of mortality that can no longer be kept at bay leading to a realization of the futility of some of our engagements, or of grudges we continue to hold.
Then there are life transitions that are a fertile ground for the seeds of dissonance to germinate and thrive.
With the feeling of dissonance comes the quest of how to put life back on track and regain a sense of balance.
The alternative paths that offer to lead us away from the dissonant self generally offer contrasting choices.
Take the realization of mortality. One potential solution leads to personal growth and a sense of equanimity. The alternative path is looking for ways to drown the emerging sense of mortality.
Depending on which path we take, a dissonant self could be our friend or a foe. The outcome of a dissonance could be a constructive or a destructive journey forward.
One path forward out of the dissonant self is introspective. It is a path along which one could try to understand the reasons for the unease within and attempt to set it right. Taking this path is challenging, but eventually, a rewarding option of self-growth.
The other path is trying to drown the feeling of dissonance. In our age, this path is so much easier to follow. Its benign versions are spending endless hours watching TV, scrolling through media feeds, keeping up with trivialities of others on social media. Other choices are self-medications — alcohol, mind altering drugs — lead to darker alleys and are not so benign.
Which path to take?
The choice, of course, should be obvious but to get going and overcome initial obstacles is easier said than done. The biggest obstacle is our tendency to follow the path of least resistance, i.e., we tend to do what requires least effort. It is easy to get sucked down the path of making the wrong choice, and after a while, it becomes too much of an effort to extricate and change courses.
The moments of dissonance, and transitions, although discombobulating, but if handled intentionally and with care, are an opportunity for self-growth; they could become a springboard for a life enriching experience. And that too, no matter whether one is young or old.
Ciao.
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