A few years ago, I was fortunate to interview the world-renowned shaman, Rudá Iandê.
Although he is a modern-day healer, our conversation got me interested in learning more about the way ancient cultures lived – more importantly, the lessons we can learn from them.
Because, as you may have noticed, the state of the world doesn’t seem to be getting much better.
Sure, we may be experiencing fewer wars and less poverty than ever before, but on an individual and societal level, people don’t seem very content.
Stress, anxiety, and much more appear to be on the rise. And while technology may play a role in solving some of our problems, perhaps the answer is much more simple.
Here are 10 things ancient cultures got right about humanity, that sadly, most of us ignore:
1) Community and connection
Many ancient cultures placed a strong emphasis on community and interpersonal connections.
They placed a high emphasis on belonging and supporting one another, in contrast to today’s often individualistic societies.
Think about it:
How often have you sat in a doctor’s lounge, or on the bus, only to find every single person engrossed in their mobile phones?
Back in the day, people would have spoken to each other. People knew their neighbors. They took pride in being part of a community.
Sadly, loneliness levels are rising in many countries, and there’s only really one solution to it:
Connectivity.
2) Sustainability and respect for nature
Ancient civilizations, such as the Native Americans and indigenous tribes around the world, practiced sustainability long before it became a buzzword.
They respected nature, understood the interconnectedness of all life, and lived in ways that minimized harm to the environment.
Now, it’s not to say that we as a society have completely forgotten about sustainability and respect for nature. There are, thankfully, many who campaign for us to live in a way that doesn’t harm the environment.
But it’s a tough battle.
Consumerism has us wanting the latest clothes and gadgets made at the cheapest prices that’ll eventually end up in landfills, while environmentally friendly options tend to be more expensive, meaning fewer people can afford to take the sustainable route.
That doesn’t mean it’s impossible though.
We’re all responsible for the world we live in. Taking little steps to reduce our carbon footprint, minimize waste and plastic use, and even something as simple as reducing the amount of meat we consume, can all make a big difference if we work collectively.
3) The value of silence and solitude
After hearing about yet another friend’s divorce, it occurred to me that there was a lot of chatter, blame placing, and excuses, but not much self-reflection going on.
Cultures such as those of the Ancient Greeks and Buddhists recognized the importance of silence and solitude for personal growth, reflection, and spiritual development.
You see, in today’s noisy and constantly connected world, the value of quiet and alone time is frequently underestimated.
We feel like we should constantly be keeping up with the rest of the world. Social media and access to the news 24 hours a day doesn’t help.
But when you learn to sit quietly with yourself, you grant yourself the opportunity to reconnect with who you are and what you want.
You learn to process your emotions better. You become more in tune with your intuition. And you’re more likely to develop as a person as opposed to someone who is constantly distracted and afraid of facing their real self.
4) Holistic health
Recently, several friends have been complaining of stomach aches, heart palpitations, and fatigue. Symptoms that seem very much in line with anxiety.
The doctor gives them a pill and sends them on their way. Yet, they never seem to get better. Why?
Because rather than look at their lifestyle choices and the stress they’re constantly surrounded by, they’re forced to mask their symptoms with medicine. In short, they never really tackle the problem as a whole.
On the other hand, ancient cultures often viewed health holistically, incorporating the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of well-being.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda from India are examples of ancient systems that treat the individual as a whole, unlike the more segmented approach of modern Western medicine.
5) The power of storytelling
Ancient societies knew the power of storytelling not just for entertainment, but for preserving history, teaching morals, and fostering a sense of community and shared identity.
Today, the art of oral storytelling and the lessons they carry are often overshadowed by digital entertainment.
As a former school teacher, I was, at first, pretty taken aback when I’d teach my class of 8-9-year-olds the basics of forming a simple story. Their lack of creativity, not to mention their waning attention spans, surprised me and made me think about my own childhood.
I was lucky enough to live for around 10 years before mobile phones truly took off – my memories are filled with my parents reading stories, telling stories, or passing on stories from their parents.
That gave me a sense of identity and belonging, something many individuals are lacking today.
6) Mindfulness and meditation
Another thing that ancient cultures got right were practices like mindfulness and meditation, particularly in Buddhism and Hinduism.
These practices were understood to improve mental health, enhance self-awareness, and lead to a more fulfilling life, insights that have gained traction in the modern world only recently.
Much like we discussed earlier, there is value in sitting quietly with yourself.
Even if it’s just for a few minutes every morning before you enter the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can ground you and set you up for a more productive day ahead.
And ultimately, it’s something you can do for yourself. See it as a gift to your mind, body, and soul, to be still and calm before the world pulls you into traffic, meetings, and extremely expensive takeaway coffee.
7) Cyclical concept of time
Whatever your view on God, spirituality, or religion is, there’s one thing we can’t deny:
Death.
It comes to us all, but in today’s world, we seem incredibly afraid of it. Many of us don’t know how to process grief – it’s almost as if we’ve forgotten that we’re a part of nature, a part of something bigger than us.
Many ancient cultures, including the Mayans and Hindus, viewed time as cyclical rather than linear.
This perspective led to an understanding of life, death, and nature’s rhythms that encouraged acceptance, resilience, and a deeper connection to the cosmos.
8) Importance of rituals
Remember when we spoke about the importance of community and connection?
Well, many ancient cultures valued the significance of rituals in marking important life events, seasons, and transitions.
Rituals were seen as a way to connect with the divine, honor ancestors, and bring meaning to everyday life—something that is often missing in modern secular societies.
Now, I’m not saying we need to force young boys to jump through hoops of fire in order to become men or marry off young ladies to turn them into respectable women.
We’re free to make our own rituals and traditions, in keeping with the current times.
But by doing this, we keep alive the notion that we’re all interconnected. We have our role, our value in this world, and it’s an important responsibility to uphold.
9) Philosophy and self-reflection
In a world that’s designed to keep us busy, it’s hard to find a moment to think about those scary, bigger-than-life questions.
Questions such as:
“Who are we?”
“Why are we here on planet Earth?”
“What is the meaning of it all?”
Societies like ancient Greece and China produced philosophers who pondered life’s big questions and the nature of being human.
The practice of self-reflection and philosophical inquiry led to insights about ethics, happiness, and the good life that remain relevant today.
10) Resilience and adaptability
Finally, ancient cultures faced numerous challenges, from natural disasters to conflicts and societal changes.
Their survival and adaptability, often rooted in strong community ties and deep understanding of their environment, offer lessons in resilience that are applicable to modern challenges.
I’ll give a tiny, tiny example of how this knowledge can be applied in today’s world:
In certain areas of the UK, and many other countries, floods are on the rise. People have lost their homes and much more to such natural disasters.
Now, while modern techniques may help in this situation, one thing that is proven to pay off is the use of native plants, specifically those designed to keep flood water at bay.
But of course, this takes time and knowledge to work out. An understanding of the land, and most importantly, nature’s role in it.
Struggling to Love Yourself? This Quiz Reveals Why and Shows You How
Do you sometimes feel unworthy, flawed, or not good enough? Like you’ll never measure up no matter how hard you try?
Most of us grapple with self-doubt and low self-esteem at times. And when we don’t love ourselves, it permeates everything – our relationships, our work, our inner peace.
But why is self-acceptance so hard? And how can we move from self-judgment to self-love?
That’s what this illuminating quiz dives into. It’s designed to uncover the specific barriers holding you back from embracing who you really are.
In just a few minutes, you’ll gain priceless insight into:
- The root insecurities driving your self-criticism
- How past emotional wounds shaped your self-perception
- Ways you unconsciously sabotage your happiness
With this valuable self-knowledge, you’ll be equipped to start the healing process and develop true self-love.
Stop feeling plagued by not being enough. Take the quiz now to pinpoint what’s distorting your self-image so you can reclaim your sense of self-worth.
The first step is bringing awareness to the problem. The solution will follow.