Sustainability from within: Self-reflection

THE more | observe my own inner life, the clearer it becomes that the root of the unsustainability we see in the world is not only in external systems but also in the inner state of human beings. At the core lies a feeling of self-inadequacy and a subtle sense of emptiness that often remain hidden in the background of consciousness. This inner void iswhat drives most individuals, mysetfincluded, into activities that are not really necessary for life. These activities, repeated across humanity, collectively make our lives a burden rather than a resource to both society and nature.

- By Dr. ROHANA ULLUWISHEWA

When lam in this state of disconnection from myself — what | call Stage 1 ofthe inner journey, | am mostly unaware of it. Yet in this state | feel incomplete, restless, and dissatisfied. To fill the emptiness, | seek pleasure from external sources. Sometimes | compare myself with others to feel superior. At other times | replay pleasurable past experiences or imagine future victories, arguments won, respect earned, and recognition received. These fantasies give brief relief but usually end in subtle disturbances.