Quests
One reddit user said, “I hate people... People are selfish, manipulative and only pretend to care about others when it benefits them... I tried to think positive and believe that most people are ‘good’ but it’s just not true.”
If you are wrestling with your faith in humanity, I invite you to embark on an epic quest with me to explore this idea.
Welcome, Adventurer!
Greetings! My name is Luke and today I’ll be your old man bestowing you with a quest, handing you a sword, and saying “It’s dangerous to go alone - take this!”
I’m a Nationally Certified Counselor in Colorado, USA. I’ve been in the mental health field for 7 years and been on my own mental health journey for over 10 years. I created CounselCards to help people explore mental health concepts that are relevant to them.
Now more than ever, I see a society that is pessimistic, or devastated, about the moral qualities of humans. The world is full of “evil”, and it can be easy to struggle with one’s faith in humanity.
That being said, we are all humans, and it can feel isolating to live in a society of people who you deeply dislike. Human connection is a cornerstone of our mental health (source: too many studies to list). So I invite you to embark on a quest with me to openly wrestle with our belief that people are inherently evil and perhaps find a more balanced truth that can drive us towards fighting for something we believe in.
As a reminder, this content is for exploration and education purposes only. Nothing I write, reference, or recommend is intended as professional therapy services or as a replacement for professional therapy services. If you are struggling with your mental health, my honest first recommendation is to seek out a licensed professional to get individualized help!
What is your Goal?
When you are intentional about your goal, you are more likely to achieve a satisfying outcome. So I invite you to think for a moment about what you want to get out of being here.
“Just Checking It Out”
Hey, I commend you for even doing so much as going to a new website and being open to exploring this question! The first step is usually the hardest. There are no expectations here, explore as you wish.
Recommendation:
Watch the Video Delve below
Answer one journal prompt
“I Want To Explore”
I empower you to look through the content below, follow your interest, and complete the activities which most excite or intrigue you. There’s no wrong methods except, perhaps, to quit before you feel satisfied with your work.
Recommendation:
Complete one activity from every section.
“I Want to Change My Life”
First and foremost, and I’m serious, finding a licensed professional is usually the best way to change your life, and it’s my recommendation. They can offer you help tailored to your specific life situation, personality, and needs. Seek until you find somebody that fits you well.
That being said, everything in this quest is geared towards helping you on your journey to growth and change - and it’s a lifelong journey. I hope this can act as a supplement to help you get where you’re trying to go. I recommend you pick up your sword and complete every activity in this quest from action prompts to reading books.
Counselcard Spotlight
Anne Frank - Diarist, Holocaust Documenter
“It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”
Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who spent two years hiding in a secret annex from Nazis during World War II between the ages of 13-15. As the Holocaust unfolded, she witnessed humanity’s capacity for evil. Despite this, she chose to believe in the goodness of people. When she was arrested and taken to a concentration camp, witnesses say that she still held great empathy and compassion for others.
Her published diary, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, deeply moved me. She gives this quote towards the end of her diary, after hearing two years worth of war crimes committed by the Nazi regime towards her people. Anne Frank, I believe, was a person of incredible character, strength, self-awareness and depth. Her diary is deeply personal, she holds nothing back. If nothing else, I believe she is one person that most of us could look at and use to see some good qualities in the human race.
Answer These Journal Prompts
You might be saying, “What is this, the 1700’s?” Well, people in the 1700’s had better attention-spans than us! Studies show that journaling is an excellent practice for refining and processing your thoughts, regulating emotions, and exploring new ideas. Get out the ol’ pen and paper, or even a notepad app, and respond to the following prompts. You can click the drop-down on each one for expanding questions.
Please be gracious and considerate of yourself as you journal. Discomfort is frequently, if not always, necessary to create growth. However, sometimes becoming too uncomfortable does more harm than good. If any of these prompts are creating too much discomfort for you, feel free to stop, take a break, or skip a prompt altogether. You are doing this for your beneficence, after all! There is no pressure or expectation.
-
If so, why?
Describe the experiences that have led to this loss of humanity.
Were there things done to you?
Were there things done to others?
Which experiences have had the most deeply emotional impact on you?
-
Are these some things you value which you perceive that other humans do not value? (EX: life, kindness, honesty, etc.)
How did you come by these values?
Are you an exception to the rule? Meaning, are you unique from other humans or do you also struggle with the same flaws as others?
-
If people can change, how much can they change?
What are some things people can truly change about themselves?
What are some things that people can never change about themselves?
Do people have an inherent evil or good nature?
Is it possible that the answer lies somewhere in the middle?
What do you think of the phrase “Hurt People Hurt People”?
-
All people have flaws. At what point does a person become worthy of abandonment or hatred?
Can a person ever receive forgiveness?
Where is that line drawn?
Can you think of a time where your actions did not accurately reflect who you truly are?
Do people have ideas? Or do ideas have people?
Consume and Reflect on Content
One of the biggest inspirations for creating CounselCards was the idea that many people, both current and historic, have wisdom and stories to share for helping you overcome life’s difficulties.
When you consume content, do your best to pay attention and internalize what is said. I recommend you find what works for you. Some people are more visual, some prefer audio, some need to focus solely on the content, some need to multitask. For example, I like to consume an audio resource while playing a video game, doing a puzzle, or working out - but that doesn’t work for everybody. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
Additionally, I encourage you to take time for reflection after consuming some content. Even if just for five minutes, take a walk or sit in silence and allow your brain to process what you heard. It will help the content stick with you and allow you to pull the most useful pieces of info.
Finally, please recognize all content for what it is: the creation of an imperfect person. Don’t take anything I recommend here as 100% truth. I’m not asking you blindly like, follow, or believe the things promoted in this content. I moreso want you to “chew on it”. Ask yourself, “what do I think of this?” Anything that is good, true, and useful will usually be self-evident by the qualities of life it promotes. It’s a learned skill to entertain somebody’s ideas just to see what you think of them, even if you don’t fully agree with them or like the message.
Videos/Podcasts
This section includes a wide range of content, such as lectures, discussions, educational videos, opinion/perspective videos, clips, sketches, etc.!
Movies/TV Shows/Songs
Storytelling is a timeless way of sharing lessons and explaining metaphors. This section will share media productions that can assist in your quest!
Books/Texts
I cannot express enough how good books are for your brain and how thorough they can be in the knowledge they hold. Treat your mind to an intellectual feast!
Take Action!
Ok, here’s where my biggest legal liabilities are. But the truth is that our biggest positive changes often happen through real-life experiences. Life is not within the comfortable corners of our phone screens… It’s out there, in the great wide unpredictable world.
So, to be very clear, do nothing that you perceive will be directly dangerous to yourself or others. When you walk outside, you assume the inherent risks of life. I simply mean, don’t do anything that you know is a dangerous or bad idea. Be brave, but also smart and measured.
-
Start a list. Find people who have qualities you like or who live in a way that you respect. Nobody is perfect, but look for the good in these people. Fictional characters are allowed - but I’d encourage you to look at the creators of fictional characters as well, because those characters were born out of the mind and experiences of the real life creators.
-
Do something positive to make the world a better place for one person.
Suggestions:
Give an intentional compliment.
Do a favor and don't expect anything in return.
Do an act of kindness and don't tell anybody about it. Deny yourself the public praise for doing it, just do it because it’s kind and makes the world a better place.
-
Do something positive to make the world a better place, even if the action is something small.
Suggestions:
Volunteer your time
Contribute to a charity
Advocate for a cause
Conclusion
The final challenge is usually the same in all of my quests: I challenge you to keep going.
Continue asking hard questions, researching, and being the change you want to see in the world. Keep count of the positive things you have seen and have seen from others. Believe in the good and be the good.
If you completed your goal in any of the levels, congratulations on taking up the mantle and wrestling with your faith in humanity. If you do not feel entirely satisfied even now with the problem of people doing selfish and evil things, I want to validate that. One unhealthy extreme is to just hate every person blindly. The other unhealthy extreme is to trust every person blindly. There are people who do incredibly immoral things - there always will be.
When Hitler rose to power, he and his regime took the lives of many innocents. If it weren’t for the sacrifice of flawed but courageous people who stood up to fight, the suffering would have been much greater. We need forces of good to fight the forces of evil. Will you sit in contempt of the human race? Or will you fight to help humanity become just a little bit better?
Get the Trading Cards!
If you haven’t gotten the trading card yet, now’s your chance to get one! Here are some benefits:
Making a financial investment, even a tiny one, can help signal to your brain that your mental health is important enough to make sacrifices for. It says, “I’ve put some skin in the game” and can help keep you committed to growth and learning.
It’s the best way to support my free content. I never want to charge anybody to access my videos or quests. Buying cards helps me to be able to produce more of this work, and it means a lot to me and my family!
Anne Frank Trading Card
$5.00
GIFT CARD
from $50.00
Get More Content or Give Feedback
Sign up to receive notifications about when new quests become available - or leave a message to let me know what you thought of this quest. I would love to hear your feedback, especially positive feedback!