Christmas and Human Nature: A Perspective

Of course, no one is the same. All people are different and unique in their own way. And I like to believe that everyone despite their weaknesses and shortcomings, has certain good, moral values and ideals and a true potential that is able to reach those ideals.

There is diversity, but I believe in a fundamental equality. Because after all, we all have one thing in common: the human nature. There are certain things, certain needs we all share: the needs for connection, for affection, for feeling understood and appreciated. I have learned that if people are given the opportunity to help somehow, to fulfill a purpose - that makes them genuinely happy giving them a sense of peace. This shows how people are genuinely made for community. One is truly satisfied when one knows he or she can make a change. But obviously, that change needs to be perceived and appreciated by someone else. We cannot deny our social nature. It’s part of who we are as human beings.

And we can see that, for instance, most people nowadays tend to be part of the celebration that reminds them of the sweetest joys regardless if they are Christians or not: Christmas. Despite the fact that media and consumerism made it a big deal and mainly deviated from its true meaning, many people are yearning for living and celebrating the Christmas spirit giving them the opportunity to be different this time, to be good to others, to contemplate on the soon-to-be-ending year and to aspire and set new resolutions for the year to come. They want to make others smile by giving, they go back to their families to celebrate together, to be together (for some, at least once a year). And then there’s this: the meal, we all gather around the table to share delicious meals made especially for this season, to laugh, to reminisce, to love, to be joyful, to be together.

Even though this might not be the case for everyone, unfortunately, this is what we aspire to, this is what we idealise. This is what we see on TV, in films. This is how we think it is supposed to be. Some of us hate it because it is too difficult for us to be this way, especially if during this time of the year we deal with various distressing difficulties we cannot overcome due to all sorts of losses that take time to deal with. We do not have the mental or emotional energy to love others when we don’t love ourselves, when we feel unloved by others, when we feel lonely and unfortunate. Carl Rogers used to say that only after we meet our basic needs (physical, social, emotional etc.) we can then reach self-actualisation which is the process by which one engages to reach her or his full potential. But again, this does not deny or diminish our true nature when we are in a stable and true state, that of community, of giving, of loving.

Which pretty much points to the Christmas story anyway, as in Christianity it is believed that Jesus Christ was born to preach God’s love and grace for His people and bring unity with God again. So regardless if we consider ourselves Christian or not, regardless if it’s Christmas or not, I think it is good to be reflective about our true nature as human beings and how we can fulfill our purposes as humans among humans. How we can love, give, support, listen, help by using our own gifts, talents, abilities and creativity that each one has as individuals in order to bring unity, peace, and love in this world that sadly preaches division, injustice, crime, manipulation, and hatred either in obvious and direct ways or in a subtle and indirect manner. Let’s not just be good in thought but to take courage and practice what we believe in, what we preach. Because, as Rachel Joy Scott said once, ‘I have this theory that if one person will go out of their way to show compassion then it will start a chain reaction of the same’.

Merry Christmas, everyone!