As a person who claims to be in touch with the pulse of the age, I would have to say that by and large, I see a sea of people that are running away from their true potential. Now everyone likes to do this occasionally. Pretend that we don't know what we should be doing with our time, but deep down our soul knows what the heck its here for. And perhaps running is the fun and safe way to go about our own lives. It's hard to really tell. Deep down we all know that's it's easy to run... And much simpler to accept what is before us. We know what life is, right? Go, and have fun, get a good job, go home and repeat. Sadly, I see people mailing it in all across the board...
People who know they could be doing better, emotionally, spiritually, psychology etc. but they just keep accepting everything around them as a truth. Failing to realize that the real truth is inside themselves. The external malaise is just a direct result of their own unwillingness to embrace the spiritual duty that is their calling. They are just looking around and waiting for something to happen... What are they waiting for you to ask? Well, I cannot fully be sure... Some are waiting for a rapture, others are waiting for some dramatic political scenario, others are waiting for their loved ones to change and still, others are waiting for tomorrow. A day with all the promise of today, but without any of the responsibility.
The concept of change is a painful one to any mind. It lets us know that not only will tomorrow be different than today, but the day after that will be different than tomorrow. Now even though this seems obvious when I talk when I talk about it here, the ego has a hard time with this. The ego likes to deal indefinite terms. It wants stuff when it wants them. It's a spoiled child when left unrestrained by spiritual purpose or personal development. The ego will take it for granted that the day after tomorrow will be just like this one, so it's entitled to receive the same treatment that it received today. Any time you don't get what you want, the ego seems that as a "minus one". Although in real terms, not getting things don't usually hurt the spirit much at all.
For the soul, only non-material things can hurt it. To hurt the soul, you must abuse it by going against your higher self, or in essence, commit evil. If you are not out here committing evil, the soul will not perturb one bit. Even if you are neutral in spiritually divisive affairs. Now, the ego thinks it lost when it has to give things up or not get things what they want... Hence, we end up with a society that likes things as they are and has a disdain for personal change and reformation. Again, change is simple, but the ego makes it quite beautiful... This is quite evident to anyone who has tried to quit a bad habit... Addiction is a sure sign that the ego is running the show. I'm sorry if that is shocking news, but I just want to give you the brass tacks here.
If our spirit were to be left to its own devices and not compromised, the ego would have very little say in our affairs, especially anything self-destructive.
Again, all of the promises of anything we have ever wanted is right inside our own minds... Not just in a "the secret" kind of will it into existence way. Instead, it's more in the " when I stop living a life that I secretly hate" that good changes will help us. No change is simple, but its better than just accepting what you see before you as the truth., because it is anything but. It is a fiction your ego has convinced you of at the moment. With a commitment to personal reformation, anything is possible. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Everyone needs some help occasionally as well, the soul has to first havea big breakup with the ego and that is a long-term painful process as like as any other real-world breakup.