Reality check, we are still holding on to past trauma

Let’s start off with a cliche: you are what you think.

Our thoughts create our experiences and reality. Renowned author Mark Twain once said that “life consists mainly of the storm of thoughts that is forever flowing through one’s head”.

In essence, when we recognise the way we think, and how those thoughts shape our reality, we can take off the rose-coloured glasses and truly comprehend our reality.

I spoke to author and social commentator Dr William Gumede on The Honest Truth. He currently chairs the Democracy Works Foundation. But more on the topic of human thought: he wrote a fascinating piece on why we seem to be not developing our democracy. Nor furthering our independence and inter-dependance as South Africans.

Why is it that the proverbial flames are licking at our heels, and yet, we are chasing our tails in search of answers? A search that is seemingly done in a manner that is self-serving, avaricious and indifferent to the plight and cries of voters.

We face tragedy after tragedy: an articulated truck killing children, dam walls breaking destroying people’s homes and livelihoods, and scores of under age teenageers mysteriously dying in a tavern…the litany of our madening cruelty knows no bounds.

So how does this impact democracy, asks Dr Gumede?

Poorly! Dr Gumede says we have become disillusioned and no longer believe (in) politicians. He cautions us against outsourcing our aspirations to leaders who do not care: it achieves nothing.

Yet, under-pinning and sustaining our inability to drive our wants and needs is our individual and collective trauma. Trauma is also not definite. If it is not dealt with, or recognised in a productive manner, it continues to fester and pollute our thoughts and limits our agency.

If we believe we have no agency then we will continue to be voting fodder for politicians. When we outsource our individual power, we become powerless to the narratives used to mask the agendas of our sycophant leaders.

We have to address past hurts, and start to heal. Or do we think it’s fair to condemn the next generation too? Our inability to deal with elephants in the room threatens our ability as a society to move forward.

Dr Gumede suggests we start by bringing love into the equation. Self love. And education and schooling must be the vehicle to drive love. Self love, explains Dr Gumede, can shatter the hold of past traumas, for a bright (future) reality.

Hope is incredibly powerful because it says: despite our challenges we will fight for a better South Africa.