One thing is for sure, escapism is increasingly more accessible every day. “Entertainment” has become so accessible it is seemingly unavoidable. Technology has become so intertwined with everyday life one feels paralyzed without it. Unknowingly, I can find myself in escape numerous times a day. This could be through “checking” my phone or watching (“tuning out”) the latest buzz in entertainment. All the while, avoiding being embodied, here, now, and all of the reminders to this inner being, such as human connections, being in nature, and being in silence.
“The problems do not go away.”
According to the dictionary, escapism is defined as an activity or form of entertainment that allows people to forget about the real problems of life. Escapism is not necessarily negative. Occasionally it is helpful to have a break from the depressing conditions of life by tuning out to watch a movie or jam to some music; however, in many cases escapism can be detrimental to one’s well-being, because as one becomes reluctant to face life, what is avoided continues to mount in number and intensity. We have all, to different degrees, engaged in a bit of escapism and witnessed that the problems do not go away or fix themselves. We may even transfer responsibility of those problems to other people, but eventually a similar predicament will arise in the future.
“Avoiding creates the suffering itself.”
How does escapism begin to take shape? From my own personal experience I have seen that I indulge in escapism when I am avoiding being in this moment. This means that my relationship with the now is almost non-existent in these situations, culminating into suffering that I usually pegged onto the task or problem I was avoiding to face. When in actual fact the very avoiding creates the suffering itself, because it is the denial of what is. Putting it in that perspective shows how futile it is to escape what is, as the very act of escaping creates resistance and further pain.
“Escapism is sold to us as a normality.”
In today’s culture, escapism is sold to us as a normality. A human with a relationship with this moment is not lucrative to corporations. Therefore, from birth one is bombarded with a multitude of commercials, beliefs, and programs influencing how life is to be lived. The relationship one has with themselves and this present moment are never quite established. Much of what one is exposed to encourages being disembodied by externalizing their power. Consequently, by adulthood one is firmly a reliable consumer of this culture. Therefore, it is revolutionary when one chooses to be aware of one’s body. One effectively becomes a mindful, conscious creator of one’s life. Escapism slowly becomes an unused tool, as facing life now no longer appears daunting and avoidable. Instead life itself is savored with excitement to be part of all of its experiences. From this state one can face life without running away, realize what it is one truly wants to achieve, and effortlessly engage with what needs to be done.