Posts Tagged ‘mental health’

💸 Bread, Circuses, and Billionaires 🍞

Posted: August 8, 2025 in Excess and Algorithms
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
0

How manufactured distraction masks elite power grabs

“The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” — Steve Biko

We’re not fighting each other.

We’re being told we are.

While billionaires rig markets, write laws, and extract more than ever before, we’re fed a diet of distraction: who wore what, who said what, who to cancel, who to worship.
Culture wars and celebrity scandals dominate the headlines. Political rage becomes entertainment. Reality is replaced with performance.

Meanwhile, real decisions get made in rooms we’re not in.

Distraction is strategy.

Bread and circuses is policy.

The phrase comes from ancient Rome. Give the people food and entertainment, and they’ll ignore the empire crumbling around them.
Today’s version isn’t lions and gladiators. It’s 24/7 news cycles, viral beef, televised outrage, algorithmic dopamine, and the myth that “both sides” are the problem.

But both sides serve the same class.
The one you’re not in.

“The purpose of the modern media is to make the public passive and distracted, not informed and engaged.” – Glenn Greenwald

Who benefits from distraction?

Follow the money.

Culture wars don’t threaten capital.
They serve it.
If we’re busy hating each other, we’re not organizing. If we’re bickering about bathrooms, we’re not taxing billionaires. If we’re glued to gossip, we’re not watching the war profiteers, the surveillance state, or the bought politicians signing our futures away.

Distraction is not a side effect. It’s the point.

Manufactured chaos is cover.

Power prefers shadows.

The more noise, the less clarity.
The more conflict, the less unity.
The more fear, the more control.

Every celebrity trial, every TikTok feud, every political theater act keeps us from looking up. Keeps us consuming, not questioning. Arguing, not organizing.

“The press is not a watchdog. It’s a tool used by the powerful to manage public opinion.” – Matt Taibbi

We don’t need more sides.

We need more sight.

Start with the question: Who does this serve?
When the story goes viral, when the talking heads scream, when the rage is addictive—ask it again:
Who benefits from our attention being here?
Because the real theft isn’t always money.
Sometimes, it’s focus.

“You are being made to focus on the sideshow, while the tent burns down.” – Edward Snowden

anarchyjc.com // Truth over tribalism.
@anarchyroll_ on TikTok | @anarchyroll on Threads, X, IG, and Bluesky

Awakening to Awareness

Posted: August 3, 2025 in Stimulus Space Response
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
0

The challenge of maintaining awareness of our thoughts is a fundamental aspect of human experience. Our minds are hardwired to think and become lost in thought streams constantly.

However, awareness of our thoughts and the ability to open our minds is crucial for personal growth and mental well-being. By revisiting this concept, we can continually remind ourselves of its importance and strive to live more consciously.

Many, if not most, people are completely identified with their thoughts and emotions. Despite meditating and studying philosophy and spirituality for ten years, I still slip into identification with my thoughts and emotions. I have often found myself dragged into petty thoughts and judgmental emotions.

Even though I take multiple actions habitually to counteract negativity such as:

  • reading philosophy
  • meditating
  • journaling
  • taking mood support supplements
  • doing yoga
  • walking outside
  • getting around eight hours of sleep
  • hydrating
  • drinking herbal tea
  • lifting weights
  • eating healthy meals
  • watching self-improvement videos on YouTube
  • listening to binaural beats
  • limiting screen time

I still constantly identify with my thoughts, emotions, and life situations.

Becoming aware of our thoughts, breaking free from identifying with them, and opening up the mind are important subjects to me. Worth coming back to again and again. Because it is an inner fight we all must wage again and again if we are to live a life of inner peace.

Typically, awareness of our thoughts is not the norm — automatic thoughts usually dominate. In cognitive psychology, automatic thoughts are rapid, often unconscious assumptions or conclusions that arise in response to a situation or stimuli. They appear without conscious effort and are usually brief, immediate interpretations of an event, often with a negative bias.

“Thoughts are like clouds in the sky. Sometimes it’s clear, sometimes it’s cloudy. But don’t get attached to the clouds.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

Automatic thoughts often lead to runaway thoughts, which are longer and more intense versions of automatic thoughts. A consistent double dose of automatic and runaway thoughts can likely result in cognitive distortions, confirmation biases, and intense emotional triggers.

Observing social media and the modern world, it seems more people are easily triggered when their confirmation bias, built on cognitive distortions, is challenged or broken. A clear example is the state of America after a presidential election.

Photo by Dan Crile on Unsplash

“It is not what happens to you that troubles you, but your judgment about what happens.” — Epictetus

Identifying with our thoughts means being consumed by them. Our true selves get swallowed up and erased due to constant states of stress, anxiety, disappointment, depression, and anger. We can’t escape fight-or-flight survival mode if we are constantly pulled into the rushing stream of automatic and runaway thoughts.

We must continuously choose to be aware and detach from our thought streams because our thoughts never stop. Our minds are thinking machines, but they do not define who we are. We are not our minds. We are not our thoughts. We are not our emotions. We must constantly cultivate awareness and remind ourselves of this truth.

Photo by Bahadır on Unsplash

Practical ways to practice awareness include mindfulness, which involves being fully focused on the present moment. Deep breathing exercises and guided meditations have also significantly helped me in my ongoing effort to increase awareness in my life. Journaling is beneficial as well, provided you consistently write and periodically review past entries to observe your patterns and progress.

Cultivating awareness of our thoughts while remaining detached from them can create an opening in the mind. The more we expand that opening with healthy practices like mindfulness, yoga, journaling, meditation, and studying philosophy and spirituality, the better we become at utilizing that inner space.

This helps us avoid reacting automatically to stimuli like an animal and instead respond thoughtfully and consciously. By embracing these practices, we can strive to live with greater mindfulness and peace, continually growing and evolving in our journey of self-awareness.

The Imperfect Embrace

Posted: July 29, 2025 in Stimulus Space Response
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
1

Imperfection is the most human characteristic.

We often find ourselves in a constant state of wanting to be perfect, expecting others to be perfect, forgiving our imperfections, and accepting the imperfections in others. This internal battle can create a tug-of-war between self-criticism and the desire to be social and supportive of those closest to us.

Who are we to be there for others when we have so many flaws ourselves? This harsh self-judgment can make us feel unworthy or not confident enough to interact with others. Alternatively, we might judge ourselves and others so harshly that we isolate ourselves from the world, clinging to imagined ideals that only exist in our minds. Neither of these paths is healthy.

“Our culture is obsessed with fixing and improving. This relentless improvement mentality can leave us feeling perpetually inadequate.” — Brené Brown

Guided Meditations

Non-judgment and loving-kindness centered meditations, from the Calm app, have been instrumental in helping me address this issue over the years. The judging mind can be hard to tame, especially in an increasingly hyper-judgmental culture. Cultivating awareness of my judging mind through meditation has been a significant help in this journey.

Amor Fati

The next step forward for me was learning about the Stoic concept of Amor Fati — a love of fate. This philosophy encourages us to accept what is outside of our control and to love whatever happens to us as if it is what we had wished for. By embracing this mindset, we can find peace and strength in our imperfections, allowing us to be open and there for others despite our flaws.

“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do good and evil lie? In my own choices.” — Epictetus

Compassion

The more time I spent practicing meditation and studying Stoicism, the more I found myself dipping my toes into Buddhist teachings as well. One of those teachings is that self-compassion is the foundation for compassion towards others. We can’t pour from an empty cup.

It can be hard not to be our own worst enemy or biggest critic. The intersection of these philosophies and spiritualities helped me realize that peace begins with compassion, whether for ourselves or others.

Photo by Jonas Gerlach on Unsplash

Authentic Acceptance

If awareness shows us the way out, acceptance is how we start moving in the direction of the right action. To be human is to be flawed. We must accept this about ourselves for our own sake and sanity. If and when we can do that, the next step is to extend that acceptance to others.

Offering ourselves acceptance allows us to exist authentically. We don’t have to lie to ourselves or others. When we can be ourselves, rather than putting up a front, we are then more able and likely to have deeper connections with others. How? Because acceptance and authenticity open doors to vulnerability.

“Vulnerability is the core of all connection, whether it’s emotional intimacy or physical intimacy. Vulnerability is what we share when we open ourselves up to love and connection. It’s the core of all empathy and connection.” — Brené Brown

It simply isn’t optional for us to embrace imperfection. If we want to grow, evolve, or be our best selves, we need to embrace our imperfections. To deepen existing relationships, resolve family conflicts, or meet new potential romantic partners, we must accept and empathize with the imperfections of others.

Our flaws are part of our journey. To become aware of them, we need to make and take time for reflection in our lives. Meditation and journaling are time-tested tactics, used in philosophy and spirituality practices, that have been very helpful for me, and I believe they can be very helpful for you as well.

Begin Again & Reimagine Your Reality

Posted: July 19, 2025 in Stimulus Space Response
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
0

The concept of being able to begin again and start over every day has fascinated me for a long time. Studying philosophy and spirituality has brought me to the idea that we can start over at any moment, with any choice we decide to make, with every breath that we take.

I know the feeling of being stuck, like I’m on a loop I can’t control. Many people, regardless of their demographic, experience this sentiment. Addressing this concept can shed light on an overlooked or under-featured area of personal growth content.

“Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.” — Mandy Hale

Often, I need to start again within a given day, or even within a given hour. I can have a productive morning, hit a wall in the afternoon, and then rally in the evening. Or I might struggle to get out of bed in the morning, gain momentum in the afternoon, and have a ‘meh’ evening before needing to sleep.

Keeping the concept of being able to begin again in mind is crucial. It’s easy to fall into all-or-nothing thinking, focus on the negatives, or catastrophize. Knowing that we can always begin again can relieve some of the pressure we put on ourselves. This mindset allows us to live more productively or at least more positively. The sun will come out tomorrow, after all.

Photo by Jessica Ruscello on Unsplash

What a relief it is to learn that we don’t have to wait for tomorrow. Sometimes, the challenges of life will dictate that we power down and try again the next day. But many other times by studying and applying the wisdom of philosophy, spirituality, and humanism; we can directly take action in the present moment to begin again immediately.

  • Stoicism has a core tenet of self-reflection, (often through journaling) and course-correcting our actions, habits, and lives as we go. To begin again is to exercise virtue.
  • Buddhism encourages revising our thoughts and actions because being attached to them or anything is the root cause of suffering. Small, consistent resets are normal and natural.
  • Taoism believes in not overplanning or overreacting which is a wonderful anecdote to the catastrophizing and all-or-nothing thinking that causes us to get stuck and need to start over.
  • Humanism highlights critical thinking and adaptation to new information and experience. Change being the only constant means beginning again is a necessity.
Photo by Lili Popper on Unsplash

There is no literal reset button in this life. But a metaphorical reset is constantly possible in regards to how we choose to think, perceive, feel, and act going forward regardless of what is behind us. We can choose to begin again and change our:

  • Habits
  • Goals
  • Relationships
  • Self-Perception

Embracing the ability to revise and start over empowers us to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and hope. It’s never too late to change our stories and create new beginnings.

“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a journey, not a destination.” — Carl Rogers

anarchyroll presents

Stimulus Space Response
 ☯ Wisdom is Resistance | ∞ Truth Over Tribalism
 Follow @anarchyroll on TikTok, IG, X, Threads & Bluesky

📈 The Productivity Scam 📉

Posted: July 19, 2025 in Excess and Algorithms
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

How Hustle Culture Masks Wage Stagnation and Serves the System That Exploits Us

“If you just work harder, you’ll make it.”
That’s the lie. That’s the scam.

We’ve been sold a fantasy of upward mobility that depends not on policy, fairness, or collective progress, but on our willingness to self-destruct in the name of ambition. Hustle culture tells us that success is just a matter of willpower. Wake up earlier. Grind longer. Outwork everyone. Sleep less. Want it more.

Meanwhile, corporations rake in record profits. Wages flatline. Healthcare, housing, and higher education become luxury items. But you? You’re still thinking it’s your fault.

Let’s pull back the curtain.

Hustle Culture Is Corporate Propaganda

Productivity influencers. 5AM club bros. “No days off” as a flex.

This isn’t just personal ambition — it’s been industrialized. We’re encouraged to track every breath, stack habits, bullet-journal our burnout, and turn our identities into brands. This isn’t motivation. It’s manipulation.

By reframing overwork as a virtue, the system turns our exhaustion into a badge of honor. You’re not supposed to question why you have to hustle this hard just to survive. You’re just supposed to optimize better.

Productivity Went Up — Wages Did Not

Since 1979, worker productivity in the U.S. has risen by more than 60%. But hourly wages? Up only about 17%. Where did the gains go? Straight into the hands of shareholders, executives, and the asset-owning class.

You’ve probably felt it. Working longer hours just to keep up. Side hustles becoming lifelines. And still, rent rises faster than your paycheck. It’s not laziness. It’s a rigged game.

📊 From 1979 to 2020, U.S. productivity grew 61.8% while hourly pay rose just 17.5%. — Economic Policy Institute

Hustle culture isn’t closing the gap. It’s hiding it.

Burnout Isn’t a Personal Failure

Internalized capitalism teaches us to equate self-worth with output. When we feel overwhelmed, we don’t blame the system — we blame ourselves.

But the exhaustion isn’t a bug. It’s the feature.

We’ve been taught that if we feel burned out, we just need better time management. A better planner. A better morning routine. We keep trying to fix the machine — when the problem is that we’re not machines at all.

“You are not lazy, unmotivated, or stuck. After years of living in survival mode, you are exhausted. There is a difference.” — Nedra Glover Tawwab

The Scam Serves Power

There’s a reason hustle culture has been monetized and weaponized by the very systems profiting off your labor.

Big Tech sells you productivity tools. Influencers push affiliate codes for morning journals and nootropics. Employers glorify “passion” to justify unpaid overtime. Gig apps track your every second. Even rest has been turned into another thing to optimize.

The more exhausted you are, the less likely you are to resist. The scam isn’t just psychological — it’s strategic.

Opting Out Is the First Step

Quiet quitting. Labor strikes. The rise of “lazy girl jobs.” These are signals of something deeper — a refusal to keep feeding a system that only takes.

We don’t need to hustle harder. We need to stop normalizing a world where burnout is inevitable, and survival is treated like success.

Stop optimizing. Start organizing.
The system is broken — not you.

anarchyroll presents

Anarchy Journal Constitutional
☯ Wisdom is Resistance | ∞ Truth Over Tribalism

🎬 Scroll-Friendly Version
This article was reimagined as a visual essay — watch the reel below.

@anarchyroll_

The productivity scam is working. We hustle, they profit. This isn’t about success. It’s about survival. Visual essay by @anarchyroll ☯️ Wisdom is Resistance 🗞 anarchyjc.com #burnout #hustleculture #productivityscam #visualessay #anarchyroll

♬ Apocalypse – Alex From Space

📡 Follow anarchyroll across platforms for more visual essays, short-form truth, and independent, gonzo journalism-inspired writing:

📽️ TikTok: @anarchyroll_
📷 Instagram: @anarchyroll
🐤 X / Twitter: @anarchyroll
🧵 Threads: @anarchyroll
🔵 Bluesky: @anarchyroll

Older Entries
Newer Entries