Placebo meanings
from the book “Useful Not True”:
Jerusalem is one of my favorite places. I hope to live there some day. Whenever I visit, I meet people who say they moved there from across the world because of the power of that place. They all say “it has an energy” and “you can feel it”, as if it’s an objective fact.
I’ve been to Bethlehem, the Temple Mount, and walked the Via Dolorosa. I’ve touched the Wailing Wall and the stones that held up Jesus’ cross. I find them fascinating, but still just rocks — rocks with lots of meaning to other people. I feel no special energy.
But yet, when I’m in London, Manhattan, or Los Angeles, I feel that power they describe. (Feel free to tease me for this.) These places charge me, inspire me, and have real effects on my actions, maybe because my heroes created their greatest works there. So the power comes not from the place itself, but the meaning we give it.
This applies to anything. Meanings are entirely in your mind. But their effect on you is real. Like a placebo. It actually works.
So the reverse applies as well. If a meaning is holding you back, you can actively doubt it, question it, and find evidence against it, to stop believing it. Then it loses its power.
A great point and a timely post. Thank you, Derek. We just found out that our 6 year old needs some dental work. The initial perspective my mind took - "We failed as parents!" or "This is so unfair, it shouldn't have happened!" - felt terrible.
It helps to remember that there are other stories I can tell. Such as, "Wow, look how early we caught this, how well-resourced we are to have a good dentist, how my schedule tomorrow is already structured such that I don't have to move anything to go to this appointment..." You get the idea.
Also, I totally get what you mean about the energy of a place - for me, it's Scotland all the way. And while it does feel like there's a uniquely powerful "something" going on for me there, I also ran an experiment I think you'll appreciate.
A friend reminded me that the Appalachian Mountains (the edge of which is right near me) and the Scottish Highlands were once part of the same mountain range. So I went on a walk through a preserve near my home with the thought, "This is connected to Scotland. I get to feel the way I feel in Scotland, right here." And I got to feel probably 80% of the delight I feel when I'm there. Very useful. ;)