Index
1. The Reality of Exploitation through Brainwashing of Interests
In our daily lives, we sometimes feel a sense of inconvenience and alienation. Have you ever considered that one of the causes of this is brainwashing and exploitation by interest structures? This book explores in detail how this interest structure works and how it affects our lives.
The term “interest” refers to the privileged status, power, and interests held by some people and organizations. This structure, which monopolizes and exploits social and economic advantage through the state, corporations, and policies to pursue its own interests, often involves “brainwashing” and “exploitation. Brainwashing is the control of people’s thoughts and actions through manipulation of information and induction of emotions. Exploitation is the inappropriate use of labor, resources, and time, and the use of the results for their own benefit.
These mechanisms work in many areas, including education, labor, and hobbies, and affect all aspects of our lives. We may believe that we are free to make our own choices and self-determination, but in reality, these structures often shape our will and limit our actions.
The concept of competition in today’s society is also an important component of these structures. Increased competition has forced many people to restrict their freedom and sacrifice themselves as a strategy for survival. We will examine this issue in more detail in the next chapter.
2. The Deprivation of Freedom by a Competitive Society
A competitive society is a characteristic aspect of modern society, with its emphasis on efficiency and productivity. However, understanding the fact that this competition takes away individual freedoms and creates certain “gainers” is key to a deeper understanding of our self and our society.
From an early age, we are exposed to competition for test scores, higher education, and employment, and we are taught that this is “natural. However, we may not realize that this competition takes away our individual freedom, time, and energy, often unconsciously shaping our lives and values.
For example, competition for promotion in the corporate world demands that we pursue success at the expense of family and hobby time. And education demands that we devote time to areas that differ from our interests and abilities in order to maintain certain grades. These conditions limit individual freedom and deprive people of opportunities for self-fulfillment.
Furthermore, this competitive society creates “gainers. It may be some high-ranking employee or a company that provides a particular educational service to reach a specified grade. These gainers maximize their own profits by siphoning off the time and labor of others through competition.
The purpose of this book is to help you understand these issues in depth and consider steps you can take to regain your own freedom and time. In the following chapters, we will take a closer look at how living on someone else’s time affects our lives.
3. Living Life on Other People’s Time
We spend most of our lives at school or at work, where it is “natural” to devote time to others. At first glance, this seems like a necessary act of social contribution and personal growth. However, what we are losing by living our time for others is not insignificant.
Time spent at school or at work is time spent meeting the expectations and demands of others. Students and employees follow the instructions of their teachers and supervisors, complete assignments, and work on projects. These activities are supposed to lead to learning, skill development, and professional success. However, spending most of one’s time meeting these expectations and demands can take away from one’s own time and opportunities for personal growth.
For example, it is easy to let one’s interests and curiosity become secondary to achieving high test scores in school or ensuring the success of a project in the workplace. In addition, the pressure to meet society’s expectations can reduce self-esteem and self-respect, causing stress and anxiety.
Furthermore, living life on someone else’s time robs us of time for self-understanding and self-exploration. Self-understanding is about understanding one’s values, beliefs, feelings, abilities, and interests, while self-exploration is about exploring what one wants and what one hopes to achieve. These are essential elements for personal growth and happiness, but are often neglected by living in someone else’s time.
Understanding what we are losing by living in other people’s time and reaffirming the importance of living in our own time is critical to our pursuit of freedom and happiness. However, to develop this understanding, we must first review the nature of the “happiness” we are pursuing. We will examine this in more detail in the next chapter.
4. Brainwashed Pursuit of Happiness
What if the “happiness” we are led to believe we should pursue may actually be constraining us and keeping us from true self-realization? At first glance, the act of pursuing what one wants seems to be the path to a free and fulfilling life. However, this “pursuit of happiness” may be leading us away from our true self and away from our ideal life.
The image of happiness we pursue is often shaped by social values, the entertainment industry, advertising, and the educational system, which we believe to be our own desires. Financial success, social status, material possessions – these are the indicators of “happiness” that many people pursue.
But are these really the happiness we should be pursuing? We need to understand the nature of self and determine what we truly desire. This requires deep introspection of the self and an understanding of the relationship between the self, others, and society as a whole.
Understanding what we truly desire frees us from the brainwashed “pursuit of happiness” and enables us to work toward goals that are truly meaningful. True happiness is unique to each person and is formed not by material wealth or recognition by others, but by something more abstract and profound, such as personal growth, deep connection with others, and contribution to society.
Recognizing the possibility that the “happiness” one is pursuing is the result of brainwashing and discerning its truth is essential to the sincere pursuit of one’s own happiness. This perspective is a step toward a deeper understanding of brainwashing and exploitation in hobbies and lifestyles, which we will touch on in the next chapter.
5. Brainwashing and Exploitation in Hobbies and Lifestyles
Our hobbies and lifestyles are often thought to reflect free individual choices. However, these choices are not always of our free will. Often, we shape our hobbies and lifestyles under the influence of mass media, social media, and consumerist society as a whole.
Pursuing what is considered “trendy” by advertisements and influencers, trying to find self-worth by purchasing luxury brand products, and measuring our self-esteem by the number of “likes” on social networking sites – all of these things, These are all examples of external manipulation of our tastes and lifestyles.
Is this what we really want? Or are they just what we are led to believe we want by social pressure and marketing ploys? We need to constantly question whether our choices come from within ourselves or are imposed from the outside.
By understanding and pursuing the hobbies and lifestyles we truly desire, we can find our self-worth from within and lead more fulfilling lives. On the other hand, recognizing that our hobbies and lifestyles are shaped by brainwashing and exploitation is an important step toward liberating ourselves and regaining our true freedom.
6. Awakening from Brainwashing and Reclaiming Our Time
Becoming aware of the many brainwashings and exploitations we encounter in our daily lives is the first step toward liberating ourselves. By reviewing our unconsciously formed thought patterns and behaviors and exploring the truth, we can become aware of and empowered to overcome the effects of social structures and pressures.
In order for us to become aware of our brainwashing and exploitation, it is important to take time for self-reflection. In order to discern whether our thoughts and actions come from within ourselves or are imposed from the outside, we must face ourselves deeply and understand what we feel, think, and want.
And the changes that begin with awareness ultimately pave the way for us to truly reclaim our own time, or life. The insights gained through self-reflection will guide us in finding concrete steps to live the life we truly desire.
This process may not be easy. But the value of discovering our self-worth, using our time for ourselves, and living our lives for ourselves is immeasurable. The journey to awaken from brainwashing and exploitation and reclaim your own life begins here.