To a certain point, what the OP says is true. However, people put their faith in material possessions, other humans, and themselves which are always fallible. People, these days, neglect any spiritual aspect and growth in their lives, thus leading to anxiety and poor coping. "The greatest enemy to human souls is the self righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation."-C.H. Spurgeon
"Whether you are a mouse or a human, a sound body creates a sound mind..
"People tend to think that the brain sits atop the pyramid, controlling the body, but it's actually the other way around. The body is the CEO and the brain is the COO. While your brain controls your body's control operation, it works in service of your body. That's what it evolved to do. You brain evolved from your body's movements to regulate your body and to manage it's physiology so that it can efficiently move and interact with the world around you."
Do you agree or not?
I agree with almost everything in the TedX talk, but the above analogy is wrong, as is his reference to body, brain, and mind. The body is NOT at the top of the pyramid. It is one of three overlapping circles... one each for body, mind, and soul. There is a sweet spot where these three circles overlap... where life is in balance. When one circle is weak, the other circles can compensate... up to a point. Thus, running is a GREAT way to deal with the stresses of day to day life and to prolong health so the body can continue to provide this benefit. The physical stress of running can greatly reduce the mental and emotional stress to bring the person back into more balance. Ideally, you want to be in the spot where the circles overlap. A weak body makes that much harder to do.
Very interesting point Rojo. We have never had it so good, materially speaking. Yet you’re right – millions upon millions of people suffer from crippling mental illness every day. The problem is getting worse. To the point now that the highest purpose of our culture, it seems, is to ensure that no one suffers emotional distress at any point. But that won’t help. The problem is not in our minds, it’s in our souls.