Nick Seneca Jankel: Switch On
After all, who does not want to be switched on? And live a switched on life?
But not everyone knows what living a conscious life is. In fact, I left one of the world’s best academic institutions, with one of their best degrees possible, that gave me expertise in two vital areas of thriving: human biology and human science / philosophy… yet I had no idea at all how to thrive. I was depressed, addicted, anxious, felt unlovable, confused about my purpose and more besides. It was only when I developed my conscious awareness of my own moods, emotions, sense of disconnection and fear, habits, beliefs and more that I was able to transform all my suffering (which is an ongoing process and the onion is pealed back).
So, as a former brand consultant, I realized I could rebrand conscious awakening and enlightenment, integrate it with the very latest science from all areas that touch human thriving, unify that with a rigorous interoperation of the deepest insights from the world’s great wisdom traditions (Taoism, Buddhism, Sufism etc.), and show how it can work for us in the everyday moments of stuckness… as well as with those more significant life and world challenges which effect so many of us eventually. In other words, the Switch On series offers a science-driven, wisdom-inspired way to deal with everyday blockages and major life traumas and upsets – addiction, depression, anxiety etc.
Finally, I wanted to expressly connect conscious awakening and personal thriving with real—world impact, in particular the mission of increasing the social justice and environmental sustainability of our human race. Too much spirituality has developed in a bubble of self-pleasing and self-development, divorced from the suffering of people and planet. At the same time, most of the activism we see from social entrepreneurs, non-profits and movement leaders is head-driven not heart-driven… and so will ultimately fail because it takes hearts and minds to transform people’s behavior and attitudes (as Gandhi, MLK and Mandela all came to realize). I wanted to write a book that could help people who want to make change in their company and community know how to break through with passion and commitment… and inspire those on the path of spiritual enlightenment to connect their love to a cause that can make tangible difference to the starving and abused kids, the dying species and rain forests and the daily every day, mundane, mind-numbing suffering of so many people who are depressed, anxious, stressed and suicidal.
