deity or doctor ? how the codex is neither

religion, in all its various denominations and forms, has been around for millennia. whether it was the god of land, sea or sky or an all-powerful god who controlled everything — people have asked something that they cannot see to save them from their woes

medicine, specifically the mental health segment, has been around for a much shorter period of time. and while its evolution from painful torture — dungeons, holes in the head, and shock therapy — to copious amounts of pills and talk has been rapid by comparison, its desired outcome is the same. people want . . .
less pain
less struggle
more meaning

what is interesting is that fundamentally they are far more similar than most people think. both have their authors, their origins and their rules. their dos and don’ts. books that outline right from wrong, who is allowed to belong and who does not. and in many cases, how much someone donates — or can afford to pay — seems to affect access

however that is not the most important detail or difference between them. what matters at the end of the day is, do they work ? are they successful ? are their followers in less pain ? struggling less ? have more meaning in their lives ? and if the answer is yes — fantastic

but if the answer is no, we need to ask why

interestingly, there are similarities between organized religion and mental health medicine . . .
i) they ask the person to look outside themselves, to others, for advice
ii) they can be confusing, lengthy and unclear
iii) they were developed for a different time, a different world
one might imagine that each of those could yield less than ideal solutions on their own, and almost guarantee problems in combination. perhaps that is why neither has managed to eliminate the pain, struggle or search for meaning they were asked to address

a certain level of pain, of struggle, is inevitable. without them we would have no perspective and most likely less meaning. however, perhaps the way in which we navigate them can be simplified

regardless of the issue, triangulating the problem through three simple lenses can help illuminate a path to a solution. a path of greater clarity and perspective. to simplify the process further, the order in which the lenses are used is not fixed, nor is the amount of each used. use is based entirely on the issue at hand

the lenses are . . .
: mortality - death and grief
: you - body, mind and soul
: time - past, present and future
together these form the codex — a system that allows its users to look at any conflict, any issue, any problem and select a path that is best for them. a system that can be used on its own, or in conjunction with deities and doctors if so chosen

life is full of conflicts. partnerships can be some of the most challenging

business, friendships, romantic relationships all have their own distinct differences, however at their core they are all partnerships. and when two (or more) people enter into a partnership, a plethora of issues can arise. and when they do, most people have a difficult time trying to find their path forward as they can be complicated, intertwined or otherwise nuanced

but they do not have to be using the codex . . .
: mortality  🧭
has this partnership led to someone’s death ? will continuing it lead to someone’s death ? to the death of a loved one ? your death ?
: you  🗿
how is your body physically affected ? not your feelings — your nerves, your muscles, your bones ? energized or exhausted ?
how do they impact your mind ? does your mind race, trying to stay three steps ahead ? wired or calm ?
how do they touch your soul ? fueled for war or peace ? heavy + empty or light + fulfilled ?
: time  ⛓
am i holding onto this partnership because of its past ? is it still a positive part of my existence in the present ? if it stays the same, will i have the future i wish to achieve ?

remember — the above questions are not mandatory. they do not all have to be asked. the answers will not tell you whether to stay or go. they are meant to help the ‘perspective muscle’ get stronger and sharper so that you can make a choice. a choice that is yours

the codex is not magical, nor is it a set of rules created long ago. it is three fundamental elements we already understand, combined into a powerful map that has been hiding in plain sight

sound too good to be true, too easy ? maybe it is

“very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking” ~ marcus aurelius