Many people have been raised or are still being raised under the merry and whimsical fantasies created by Disney. Now, I love Disney. Disney has created some of the most magical and classical stories of all time. This includes worldwide favorites like The Lion King, Aladdin and Beauty of the Beast. Disney helps people expand their imaginations and gives them a much needed break from this sometimes arduous world. While Disney helps gives our minds many places to explore, there is the myth of humanity having infinite options.
Disney on its own is not a problem; countless of other entities provide the world with similar fantasies for our enjoyment. But when people start having a hard time differentiating between fantasy and reality that’s when we start having serious problems.
Why having Infinite Options is a Myth
For ages, we’ve had children growing up believing they can be anything they want to be in this world. This is fair. What isn’t fair, however, is concealing the necessary realities (e.g. facts and statistics) from children; this is done till they’re too old or jaded to meaningfully increase the odds that they can fulfill their fantasies. As if this isn’t bad enough, we also have an opposite end of the spectrum that “rewards” the failures of adults. They are rewarded with more fantasy to cushion them from accepting their realities.
For instance, when people undergo a breakup, many would comfort them with, “Don’t worry. There are 7 billion people on the planet. You’ll find someone.” Really? Will Ariel from The Little Mermaid be one of their romantic options too? Newsflash! The average person will be fortunate if they find 7 people in their lifetime worth having a long-term relationship with.
There may be 7 billion people on the planet does; but that does not mean the majority of them would be available or would want anything to do with you. This can easily be realized once you start subtracting hundreds of millions from that 7 billion pool. Because factors like age, sex, geographical restrictions, wealth, illness, language barriers, ethnic preferences and personalities will always have to be considered. Looks much less promising now, doesn’t it?
Infinite Options give false hope.
Of course when things are challenging or people are going through a rough time sometimes the best you can do for them is sympathize. It truly helps at times to be empathetic as it can give someone in need more hope. But expressing your care and understanding should not come at the cost of lavishing others with FALSE hope. It is detrimental to the healthy development of young minds and stagnating to the ones that are more grown.
False hope feeds nothing more than an ego and an overinflated ego can be one of the most dangerous things you ever come across. For when the ego thinks it’s more valuable than it really is it begins to subconsciously believe there are ultimately more options. Suddenly the individual starts existing in their own world–a bubbling fantasy–thinking that they are special or the universe owes them something.
Their minds become lazy and follows can come the most dangerous effects that revolve around the concept of infinity. They subliminally tell themselves that there may be infinite people to meet, infinite opportunities to explore, infinite places to go and infinite things they can do in this world. That false hope sets in deeper and deeper with each passing day; they wake up one morning and realize that “the most infinite” asset, which is time, has all along been finite. Panic usually sets in and this could very well be how the average midlife crisis starts.
Think positive , but be real.
While I am a strong advocate for positive thinking and encouraging others to go after their dreams, I am also a realist. Yes, anything may be possible but more often than not success comes only with proper planning and hard work. Fantasies are great. But more people need to start offering constructive criticisms to those they care about instead of feeding their fragile egos.
Disney can afford to create infinite fantasies because it has long accomplished the primary goals it set out to achieve. Most of the world are yet to have this luxury. One of the simplest questions I ask others to consider when determining the validity of possessing infinite options is: If you pray for someone to live till 1000 will they live till then? No matter how that question is answered one will quickly realize that only timely and realistic actions can bring any desired fantasy to life.
Nevertheless, some people will adamantly believe in the concept that they can forever have infinite options. if so, perhaps they can try living under the sea for 6 years. With any luck, the day they swim up to the surface an electric bolt will strike them hard enough and pitch their crazy ass back to reality!
