Abnegation

"Selflessness and bravery aren't all that different"~Tobias Eaton. This post is dedicated to the suffering empath who literally can feel the world within their hearts and to the person who can hear the calls of help from everyone around them. It takes a real sense of courage to put oneself last when our world is so geared around the concept of self indulgence and apathy. Now, I am writing this in a most sincerer manner as I too am guilty of both as we probably all are, we are human after all. But selflessness is a trait I would definitely like to understand and emulate in more depth.

To the brave mother who would sacrifice her time for her crying child who needs and craves her attention. You are giving the world a precious gift that cannot be replaced. To the girl who can walk into a room and sense the aurora of those around her, and endeavors to ensure that everyone is included. You are inadvertently healing everyone around you. To the introvert who has a myriad of thoughts flooding his mind but who is brave enough to come of out his shell and lend a hand to an elderly person who is struggling along as they walk. To you I say, carry on! Keep being brave. The world needs you!

The inherent phenomenon of selfless can have it's drawbacks however. I say it is inherent because every single human being has this "S" gene within them, and it reveals itself in the most desperate of times. In times of great emergency or distress, I believe the human mind seems to trigger and awaken this "S" gene and causes us to commit acts of extreme bravery and strength that in hindsight seem impossible, but in the moment seem as simple as blinking. That "S" gene to me can only be described as love, as only love can trigger such reactions within the human heart and mind. It's perhaps the love for humankind, and I wonder what would happen if we could access and call upon this "S" gene at will in everything we do? I think that would be quite remarkable to witness. Now as for the drawbacks, the most obvious would be a sense of suffering and internal conflict. Now please bare with me as I use this term, as I am aware of the fact that there people out there who are truly suffering and struggling and I am cognizant of that, I am using the term because I see the selfless person as one who is willing to engage in self-denial by considering others before they consider themselves, or to lift someone up when they themselves are quite low, and that is quite courageous and shouldn't go unnoticed!

I sat one afternoon finishing up Insurgent by Veronica Roth and when I read that most Divergent initiates or transfers originated from the Abnegation faction, it all clicked! It takes an immense sense of dauntlessness to give oneself to another to a person or to a cause that one can derive little from. It takes a highly intelligent person to be able to pick up on a persons energy and empathize with their joy or sadness, and to accurately understand how to tap into that and act accordingly. And lastly, it takes a deep desire to create peace, to put oneself on the line because to an empath, a person in need is not at peace, so the selfless person seeks to restore this peace with kindness as only an honest person can.

Now as I mentioned before, I would really like to understand selflessness on a deeper level and tap into it with a balanced perspective. Like Tris and Tobias, I would like to understand why and how my mirror neurons (the tiny nerve cells located in the front of the brain, responsible for observing and imitating behavior) work they way they do, in order to use them to become more considerate, empathetic, and aware of people around me. I want to be able to access my "S" gene at will, and use it to become a better person. All is a process I've been told and so I will endeavor to hone these skills and use both in conjunction.

T.B