There are so many times when we feel a little alone or lonely, despite being between people. We feel a constant sense of emptiness and purposelessness and immediately we rush to seek validation from all our surroundings. This is nothing but a sign that we feel a deep vacuum within ourselves. The sense that just something is missing- big or small we do not understand, but it is missing.
People who feel empty inside have an inherent feeling that they are merely silent observers of their own lives. They feel restless, thus always searching, yearning for that ‘something’ that can free them of the feeling. It is not a mere coincidence that the search to fill the void often leads to some kind of excessive behavior. Excessive consumption of substances, alcohol, food or even shopping. Because by surrounding ourselves with external pushes, we are trying to replace the sense of emptiness. It acts as an escape from the harsh inner reality.
What is perhaps a more dangerous, yet very potent part of our routine life is the habit of excessive scrolling- jumping from one app to the other, the constant need to be on top of every new trend, every new gossip. Living vicariously the life of others as seen on social media provides a sole way to escape the inner turmoil. The sad reality surfaces when the mind starts comparing the social media life of others to the normal life of ourselves. This leaves us with greater disillusionment and a greater void within.
Such compulsive behaviors are successful only in the spur of the moment, distracting us for some time before the vacuum feels heavy again. This distraction leaves us wanting more. If not checked in time, these self-destructive habits can develop into serious addictions.
In another turn of events, there is a vicious cycle that follows: the fear of feeling a vacuum within, feeling deprived and thus avoiding visiting all situations that make us compare what others have and we do not, and this makes the void seem bigger. We then opt for isolation instead of asking for help to make us feel better. This cycle is not easy to break.
One way to fill the vacuum within is to embark upon a journey with the self, towards the self. When we peek within to search for the answers, a lot of realities come to the surface. But what also comes forth is the strength to face the vacuum within. This is where having a sense of spirituality or believing in a higher power becomes an anchor for life. In the Mahabharata battle of our mind, placing the heart in the charioteer’s seat and letting the supreme power guide us will surely bring us to the light at the end of the tunnel. Ultimately, the soul knows the essence of its roots. When we turn inward, we make an effort to remind ourselves that we are much more than just the physical body. We come from a far superior source and that source is also within us.
The ones who have truly felt the vacuum within and have filled it with love and grace can say for sure that it is not about moving mountains, sometimes, it is just about reconnecting to the source and identifying the real essence of self.
