Treating the symptoms vs. healing the root cause

Treating the symptoms versus healing the root cause: What is the difference?

This morning, I came across a headline on social media about older baboons (monkey/cat-like creatures) that were killed in a zoo due to overcrowding in the zoo. There were a lot of animal activists trying to prevent it. No matter the deed, the outcome or what opinion someone might have about that incident, each one of us may have their unique intention and opinion. And without a doubt, no matter whether you see innocent people or innocent animals being killed for some shallow reason, it is a tragedy. It reflects something deeper about humanity. That something is so foul.

And again, it’s not about searching for the bad guy. Or judging others for their bad behavior.

It showed me how much humanity often tries to solve the symptoms instead of the root cause.

In this case they’re trying to save the animals in the zoo (=the symptoms), but the real question that popped to my mind is, “Why do people still go to the zoo in the 21st century knowing that the animals suffer?” (=the root cause) Yes, it’s a pleasure, but if the pleasure is one-sided, it can cause harm and pain to everyone. Because after all, we remain one humanity. One world.

And I noticed how humans tend to solve the symptoms so often, no matter if it’s with animals, relationships, finances or health. Isn’t it alarming? 

So today I want to provide some insights on how to heal the root cause instead of the symptoms.

Have you noticed how we humans tend to solve the symptoms instead of the root cause?

Here are some examples.

Humans often ask: What pills and therapy forms help? How can we do better therapy?

Humans often ask: What can you do when living with a narcissist? What are techniques to calm a husband who is a narcissist?

Humans often ask: Why do they kill the animal? How can we prevent the zoo owners from killing old animals?

Humans often ask: What techniques and pills help against depression?

Humans often ask: Why are our politicians and economy so bad?

Instead of asking: What can I do or offer to the world that can make additional money? What skills do I need to build a side business instead of waiting for the politicians to decide on a new rule that will improve my situation?

Healing the symptom is like an open wound that bleeds through again and again. It can cause a lot of pain and struggle, just like an open wound can. Healing the root cause is like a scar. You won’t necessarily forget about it. The experience shaped you in a way, but it will no longer bleed through. It will no longer cause pain. It’s about a behavioral and attitude change.

Healing the symptoms means you play the victim. You look for the guilty one on the outside. Healing the root cause means you become the Creator. You take responsibility for your own behaviour. Imagine if only half of the population would take responsibility for their own behavior. What would the world look like? It would look like a healed place.

Because change doesn’t necessarily start in politics or in the economy. It starts in the heads and minds of each single human.

Never feel small. You play a significant part in this world.

And sometimes it also means that you don’t pursue hobbies for egoic reasons. In other terms, just for your pleasure when you know others suffer from you having pleasure. Such as going to the zoo. It means seeing the bigger picture: if someone else suffers, we all suffer, as we are all one humanity. 

We are not so separate after all.