Engaged Non-attachment over Apathy

It is a beautiful October morning, and I am sitting on my back porch looking out at a sky with wisps of mare’s tail clouds above blue mountains and a valley full of golden cottonwoods.  I am aware of feelings of joy and contentment arising out of being relatively safe, well, and secure in this peaceful environment. I am also mindful of trying to keep less pleasant emotions at bay, including fear, sadness, and anger, which are prompted by various stressors in our world, including the thought that while I am safe for now, many innocent others are in grave danger.

  Throughout each day, unpleasant feelings arise based on what is happening and our reactions.  When things are going our way, we might feel relatively content, complacent, even blasé, for a short time—until things change.  When we find ourselves in difficulty, we might cling to a particular outcome, leading to anxiety, irritation, and distress—until the problem resolves. When distress becomes the norm of our daily lives, we can lapse into hopelessness and apathy or even into a state called anomie, where we feel isolated and disconnected from others. Our lives feel meaningless and without direction.  The middle path between complacency when things are “all good” on the one hand, and apathy or anomie on the other is the practice of non-attachment. It is a middle path worth practicing.

What Is Non-attachment?

Non-attachment is a state of mind in which a person can experience life fully without clinging to people, outcomes, possessions, or ideas. It is rooted in mindfulness and acceptance, allowing one to appreciate the present moment and respond to situations without being overwhelmed by desire, fear, or aversion. Non-attachment does not mean indifference or apathy; rather, it allows for deep engagement with life, relationships, and emotions, but without becoming enslaved by them. Nonattachment practice

·      involves letting go of excessive desire or fear;

·      encourages presence and mindful engagement;

·      promotes emotional freedom and resilience; and

·      allows for compassion and care without being controlled by outcomes.

My biggest challenges with practicing non-attachment at present regard climate change and political upheaval. As befits an elder, I am usually more worried about the world than my personal life. And, I am not at risk for feeling apathy about these problems, at least not yet.  The focus of my non-attached practice is on accepting what I cannot control and managing my attention so that I do not become too distressed by it all. But I see a good bit of apathy in our world, especially among younger adults, which is no surprise. When you are inheriting such a troubled world, becoming apathetic is understandable.

What Is Apathy?

A lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern characterizes apathy. It is a state in which a person feels indifferent to experiences, people, or events. Apathy may arise from emotional exhaustion, depression, or a sense of helplessness, and often results in disengagement from life and relationships. Unlike nonattachment, apathy is marked by the absence of feeling, motivation, or care. Apathy leads to:

·      emotional numbness or indifference;

·      disengagement from activities and relationships;

·      depression and dysthymia; and

·      reductions in meaningful connection and growth.

What concerns me more than apathy, however, is something called anomie.

What Is Anomie?

Anomie is a concept developed by the French sociologist Émile Durkheim. It refers to a state of normlessness, where the social standards and values that usually guide behavior become unclear or are absent. Anomie often arises during periods of rapid social change, economic upheaval, or disruption, leading individuals to feel disconnected from the collective conscience of society. This can result in feelings of disconnectedness, purposelessness, and anxiety, as people struggle to find meaning and direction in their lives.

·      A breakdown of social norms leading to feelings of alienation and purposelessness

·      Disconnection, anxiety, lack of direction

·      Typical context: Societal instability, rapid change, or crisis

  I am worried that for many, our world is losing its moorings due to the rise of fascism and its attendant isms, leading to increasing confusion about one's values and personal stability. Anomie deeply affects the young, but it is also present among older adults, especially those who are particularly vulnerable due to past trauma, poverty, isolation, and discrimination.

Right now, I feel a personal and societal need for those aware enough about what is going on to rigorously practice right action and non-attachment. While non-attachment involves a certain amount of detachment, it is fundamentally different from either apathy or anomie. Non-attachment requires engagement with life as it is.  We cannot bury our heads in the sand. Non-attachment requires a conscious choice to embrace “the full catastrophe” as Jon Kabat-Zinn calls it, to arrive at genuine connection and clarity, reduce stress, and remain mindful. When we practice non-attachment, we remain grounded in our values, preferences, and dreams, even as the world appears to unravel. A true practice of non-attachment will allow us to engage in acts of courage and compassion each day and perhaps inspire others along the way. The world needs our efforts

To my readers:  my new novel, Downwind from Death, Book 3 of the Sheriff Ulysses Walker series, comes out October 14!  I hope you will purchase a copy wherever you buy books or at www.cedarkoons.com (autographed copy). It’s fast-paced and a fun book you may find hard to put down. Let me know what you think by writing me a review on Amazon.