An Elder's higher purpose is to heal the world. To act as a physician for the culture, a shaman for the nation, a spiritualist for communities, a sage for society, and a self-realized being for themselves.

Elders heal existential wounds, allowing a deeper humanity to emerge. "Existential" refers to human existence, particularly the nature of life itself, individual experience, and the search for meaning. These are wounds to who you are—and they are greatly exacerbated by uncertainty and chaos.

The Elder's Diagnosis: Locating the Wound

The Elders' initial diagnostic reveals that existential wounds manifest when individuals confront the fundamental questions of life: "How do you create meaning in a world that seems indifferent?" "What's the purpose of your life?" "What is your relationship to death, and how does it shape the way you live?"

These questions don't create the wounds—they expose them.

What actually causes these existential wounds are thoughts that act as primary etiologic agents. These are not random thoughts but deeply ingrained patterns of thinking that go unquestioned and unexamined. They are autonomous thoughts that repeat incessantly, unsolicited.

Thoughts that say, "It's being done to me." Thoughts that declare, "I am doing this to myself and can't stop it." Thoughts that shout, "The wheels are falling off the wagon, it's picking up speed, and I'm on the bus."

These thoughts demand your full attention. They insist: "Think me, think me."

The Amplifying Effect of Chaos

Here's what elders understand: these destructive thought patterns become exponentially louder and more insistent in the presence of uncertainty and chaos. The more uncertainty and chaos surround you, the higher the frequency of these intrusive, wounding thoughts.

Left unattended, these acute existential wounds become chronic. And chronic wounds—like the difference between COVID and Long COVID—are far more challenging to heal than acute ones.

The Hidden Nature of Existential Damage

Unlike your scraped knee or a cut from shaving that bleeds, existential wounds show no outward signs. The damage occurs inside, invisible to the world.

The emotions that accompany these wounds—fear, anxiety, confusion—scramble the self, leaving people feeling disconnected, lost, and uncertain about who they are and what their purpose is. Over time, invisible scars form, eventually clouding self-awareness, hindering personal growth, and preventing individuals from fully embracing their authentic selves.

The Elder's Treatment Protocol

But Elders, with their wisdom and experience, know how to heal these wounds and repair the damage they have caused. We understand which mental medicines to prescribe, what mindsets to adjust, and how to promote the healing process.

Elders offer two essential "peptides" for healing: the self-awareness peptide and the mindfulness peptide. These are taken daily, with or without food.

Here's how the healing process works:

First, like in all healing, the macrophages act first. In existential healing, they clear away old, unhelpful beliefs and emotional baggage, removing the debris and dead materials that clog the inner healing process.

After the debris is cleared, the T-cells arrive. These T-cells target and destroy the remaining barriers to healing—self-doubt, fear, and unresolved trauma. They then establish defenses, protecting you from future contamination. Much like physical immunity, existential immunity can fade over time, so regular "boosters" are recommended for long-term health.

The patient outcome? People begin to rediscover their inner truth and align with a more profound sense of meaning and direction.

How Elders Lead the Way Forward

Uncertainty and chaos will likely persist for years to come, but that doesn't mean we have to fall apart under their weight. Elders, with our years of experience and accumulated wisdom, are uniquely equipped to lead through these times. We've weathered many storms before and understand how to rebuild once the winds have settled.

This is where the elder's higher wisdom becomes essential. We allow uncertainty to be seen as an opportunity for growth, a path to foster resilience, and a doorway to lean into the support of our communities. We can not only survive the chaos and uncertainty—we can learn from it, grow through it, and emerge stronger.

When we heal ourselves through this elder pathway, we simultaneously help heal the world around us. This is the elder's gift to humanity: showing others how to dance in the rain instead of fearing the storm.

Your Healing Journey Begins Now

Let's begin your existential healing process by engaging in these questions and sharing your response in the comment section:

• "What are the various ways I react to constant uncertainty and chaos? I am... I become... I go..."
• "What are the benefits of my reacting this way?" (Yes, there are absolutely benefits you get from reacting to chaos and uncertainty in the way you do. If it has costs, it has benefits. Take a hard look.)

Remember: recognition is the first stage of conscious change. You can't choose another path unless you see the path you're on.

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Brought to you by The Contemporary Elder Institute