“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”
– Helen Keller
People talk to me about God a lot. About their beliefs surrounding the topics of souls, reincarnation, naming the Divine, mysticism, the supernatural, etc. Occasionally, someone will tell me about their fervent disinterest in discussing such matters, about their genuine lack of belief in anything in the realm of Spirit. Beliefs about the (always hot) topic of spirituality are, from person to person, incredibly varied and complex.
But what about our collective and individual beliefs about humanity? I mean, do you believe in humanity? Do you believe in the human spirit? Do you believe that humans have the capacity, the might, and the heart to do good?
The word meliorism is defined as “the belief that the world can be made better by human effort.” This is a belief I’ve had all my life without knowing it had a name.
When the world’s turmoil seems inevitable and impossible to change, this belief tells me that we are innovative, imaginative creatures who can solve any problem and create new ways.
When I feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to put my own human effort, this belief helps me to have faith in myself.
When I am furious and cynical about the so-called Powers That Be and the force of their dangerous greed, this belief reminds me that we are all powerful beings.
There’s a documentary called I Am from 2011 that sheds light, from a scientific perspective, on how we humans are naturally wired for compassion and cooperation. The reality of our interconnectedness is in our cells, in our DNA. We are, each of us, affecting our surroundings in ways we cannot truly fathom.
At the beginning of our new year, living together on our planet, may this meliorism take hold. Regardless of our spiritual beliefs and inclinations, may we consciously recognize that our efforts can and do make the world better. May we make those efforts for and alongside our fellow humans.
Happy 2023, folks!
Great word, great message!