As long as the mind is seeking to fill itself, it will always be empty. When the mind is no longer concerned with filling its own emptiness, then only does that emptiness cease to be. – Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Psychologically, a good number of us may liaise with Jiddu on filling up the emptiness in our minds because most of the challenges we experience result from the state of our minds or our imaginations of a number of issues that put us into unstable conditions and uncomfortable situations. Some of the challenges we encounter could be avoided if we tame our mental activities. This implies that emptiness can also be created in the mind; it can be an illusion within and so there is the need to fill up any emptiness, and the willingness and desire to fill up the gap is the first step to getting it done.
This article is an attempt to explain an emptiness that demands to be filled up; this emptiness is caused by hunger. In every ordinary situation, living things, especially human beings and animals, do not entertain any form of emptiness. This is because it oftentimes leads to negative situations. They always want to be complete. The cause or origin of this hunger is known and unknown at the same time. There are different forms of hunger and hence their origins which could be internal or external forces and at times both, depending on the type and intensity of the hunger. However, the common denominator here is the emptiness caused in every being, therefore, the remedy for this hunger is to fill it, but with what?
Read – Hunger – A Creative Non-Fiction by Praises Ukwuije, Nigeria
When the need arises to fill up this emptiness, the victim has, first and foremost, to identify the type of emptiness and possibly the cause, and in so doing, will be able to identify the solutions. This is very important because some emptiness just needs us to be there and it will be filled, however, in situations whereby external forces are required, it is important to pick the right ones to fill the gap. Hunger for food, for example, demands one to take in some food; here, it is not just a matter of eating just anything; one needs to choose edible, healthy and clean food. Because the aim here is not just to fill the emptiness since food is meant to provide a number of nutrients to living beings. For example, human beings derive energy, carbohydrates and other nutrients to help them grow well and be healthy creatures and this is where the issue of a balanced diet comes in. We all understand that nearly every food can satisfy a person and fill the emptiness caused by hunger but does that food provide other necessary nutrients needed for the betterment of that person? In all these, what is important to take note of is that at all costs, this emptiness has to be filled, because otherwise, the implications can be disastrous and may even result in the loss of lives.
It is this discomfort that triggers human beings to seek a means of filling up the emptiness within. Since the intensity of this emptiness is felt by the victim, those who can afford try to curb it at all costs. If it is the desire or craving for something, which could be food, sexual gratification, power, riches or anything; the origin can be from within or outside forces. It is important to understand this because it can be controlled. For example, if one experiences sexual desires after going to nightclubs or by taking alcohol, then, to avoid the emptiness it causes, one has to check the things that lead him or her to feel empty. This implies that by avoiding certain occasions in life, one is able to avoid a number of problems. Here, discipline becomes a central figure in hunger management. If only one can avoid certain occasions, the emptiness they end up having would not be there. However, if it is a natural emptiness, then the focus will be to develop sustainable means of filling it, and if possible, the means should be naturally inclined.
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Should the filling of this emptiness demand external forces to take charge, then that has to be the way to go because it should be filled to prevent it from going deeper and deeper. The understanding is that every human being at some point experiences this emptiness, although the response varies from one individual to the other. This emptiness may not be contagious since it is usually personal. This implies that the solutions that may have worked for someone may not necessarily work for the other if not checked. Though it is important to learn from each other’s experiences, it is equally important that every individual develop their own techniques for filling up this emptiness.
To sort out this issue, something has to be done, especially practically. For example, with emptiness for food, real food is needed to satisfy that hunger, but should it be a hunger for love, then there is a need for someone to partner with the victim. Should it be a hunger for work or anything that one may experience, then something has to fill the emptiness; there is a need for something or someone to take charge. Very important to note.
Read – The Hell in my Body – A Creative Non-Fiction by Enit’ayanfe Akinsanya, Nigeria
The desire to find possible solutions to the emptiness is a two-sided coin, positive and negative. The victim is free to pick a side and channel the hunger. It is important to note that even a wrong means will surely fill the emptiness but with consequences, which may be more complicated to deal with than the emptiness that was intended to be filled. Problems are not solved by creating more problems, just as fire does not quench fire. The implication here is that emptiness cannot be filled by creating another one.
Hunger, by nature, cannot completely be satisfied, because it is a continuous occurrence which demands constant maintenance. Also, since it cannot be totally eradicated, it needs constant monitoring to prevent any possible negative outcomes. What kind of hunger do you often experience? If you cannot manage your hunger, it will manage you.
This Creative Nonfiction was published in the November 2022 edition of the WSA magazine.
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