MILA POPOVIC: «There Is No Difference Between an Addict and a Civilization That Destroys Our Planet»
Photo source: projourno.org
The modern education system has reached its limits. It damages mental health, triggers an epidemic of depression, and blocks the potential for true self-actualization. How can we restore empathy, joy, and meaning to people’s lives?
Mila Popovich, a member of Global Education Futures, believes that the time has come for a radical transformation of education.
The focus must shift from raising obedient individuals to nurturing talents.
Born in Montenegro, Mila Popovich lives and works in the United States. She is the founder of the EVOLving Leadership program and a globally recognized expert in the humanities.
Her lectures and speeches at various international forums focus on topics such as sustainable development, diplomatic culture, the value-based dimension of economics, a new paradigm of human development, future studies, and foresight.
In the consulting field, Mila specializes in transformational leadership, helping companies and individuals unlock their full potential. She is also a member of the World Academy of Art and Science.
As an organizer of transformational laboratories, Popovich strives to merge academic rigor with creative innovation, blending science and artistic practices to drive systemic change on both individual and collective levels.
This explains her innovative approach to education. As a key member of Global Education Futures and co-author of the foundation’s report Educational Ecosystems for Social Transformation, Mila Popovich advocates for a radical shift in the educational paradigm.
She shares her thoughts and ideas in an exclusive interview for Huxley magazine.
FAILURES ARE NORMAL
I received my education in America. It was a valuable experience for me. However, I don’t think it would have remained relevant for long if I hadn’t continued to grow and seek additional knowledge.
I must say that the modern education system is disconnected from the real needs of social, technological, and personal development.
Undoubtedly, American society is quite structured. However, it also faces serious challenges. For instance, there is an expectation that every individual must succeed in their chosen field.
But failure is normal — it is a natural part of development and growth. Unfortunately, in America, if you are not doing well, you are doomed to face your struggles alone.
BRINGING EMPATHY BACK INTO OUR LIVES
People are isolated; they lack a sense of solidarity with one another. This takes a significant toll on the human soul and mind, leading to behavioral patterns with psychopathic tendencies. As a result, we are witnessing an epidemic of mass shootings in the United States.
According to statistics, they occur every day across the country. How can we heal individually and achieve a global recovery for humanity? We need to remember the crucial role that empathy, solidarity, and mutual understanding play in our lives.
Our well-being depends on the well-being of others. You cannot sit at a table and enjoy a fine meal with indifference while others in the world are doomed to suffer.
THE NEED TO LEARN IS IN EVERYONE
Society must cultivate a love for learning. In reality, this need is already within us. All children are naturally curious. They strive to explore the world and ask profound questions about the meaning of life.
This curiosity alone propels them toward learning. The real question is: what happens to people during the process of socialization? What robs us of this innate joy?
We see this happening to almost everyone — whether it’s a struggling teenager, a hungry child, or even a seemingly successful person. If you take a closer look, you will notice how existentially drained they are.
RESTORING OUR CONNECTION WITH NATURE
To heal the bio-social dichotomy, which is a major issue in modern society, we must restore the connection between humans and nature. A new education system should create conditions in which children can remain in direct contact with the natural environment.
This is extremely important because nature embodies the universal laws of transformation and development. We evolve together with our environment, and our bodies function like an antenna, finely attuned to it.
Unfortunately, modern social structures disrupt this communication. As a result, we find ourselves in a state of psychological and material disorder. Much of what we do ends up harming ourselves.
EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION
Every child carries a seed of genius, a potential for greatness. Learning in school should bring children joy, as this will help unlock the incredible potential that is often beyond our imagination.
Society is in desperate need of emotionally healthy individuals who can support both themselves and those around them. Interestingly, university leadership is becoming increasingly aware that if they fail to develop in this direction, the education they offer will quickly become obsolete.
There are already experimental communities striving to organize society on healthier and more harmonious foundations.
For example, Auroville — an international township founded under UNESCO’s aegis in 1968 in southern India by Mirra Alfassa, who, along with Sri Aurobindo, laid the foundations of the religious-philosophical teaching of Integral Yoga.
It is a remarkable project. However, the challenge with such communities is that, for the most part, they remain insufficiently connected to the world around them.
TRAUMATIZING SOCIALIZATION
Excessive anxiety in children begins to manifest as early as ages 5–6. It arises from the heavy burden that society places on them. My own children’s school experience is clear evidence of this.
To get to class on time, they had to wake up at 6 a.m., sometimes even earlier. Psychologically, I felt terrible forcing them to wake up so early. Sleep cycles must be aligned with children’s development.
It is simply wrong to send them to school when they are still sleepy. This is not healthy for a child. At some point, I believe such excessive strain can lead to burnout.
That’s why I tried to lighten the burden of socialization for my children as much as possible. For example, I told them they didn’t need to pretend to be sick just to get a day off. Surprisingly, they never abused the freedom I gave them.
STAYING TRUE TO ONESELF
Socialization and education traumatize our children. We need to find a way to heal these wounds. Teaching children to be excessively compliant and obedient is not normal.
While the consequences may be subtle in early childhood, they become painfully evident later in life — mental health issues, severe chronic illnesses, family conflicts, and outbreaks of violence.
Worst of all, those who suffer from these effects often blame themselves. They genuinely believe the problem lies within them. In reality, the issue stems from a dysfunctional system that harmed them in childhood.
Everyone wants to be seen and valued by society and to find meaning and joy in contributing to the world. Yet serious illnesses and emotional suffering are often the result of a person abandoning their true potential.
And it doesn’t matter whether this self-betrayal happens consciously or unconsciously.
RECOGNIZING EACH PERSON’S UNIQUENESS
Why is there an epidemic of depression across the world today? Because people are not taught to create something unique and truly meaningful. The sole concern of modern education is ensuring that we fit into the production system.
But the moment you create space for creative self-expression, a person in a depressive state reveals an immense well of creative potential. In the U.S., the epidemic of psychological distress is fueled by the relentless pressure to meet the expectations of others.
But how do you find yourself amid all this depression and anxiety? What is your true place in a world that suppresses your desires and refuses to accept them? How do you embark on a path of growth that is grounded in your authentic needs and aspirations?
WE MUST FIND THE SOURCE OF JOY
It is no surprise that all kinds of addictions are multiplying in today’s world, enslaving people. They do not solve a person’s problems — they merely numb the pain of existence for a short time.
When we talk about addiction, we usually mean substance abuse. However, the problem goes far beyond that.
Just like with alcohol or drugs, you can become addicted to exploiting others, to the pursuit of wealth, to taking pleasure in luxury while those around you suffer from hunger.
Falling under the control of such addictions means betraying your social nature because there is no difference between a person addicted to narcotics and a civilization addicted to fossil fuels that are slowly destroying our planet.
Humanity has already reached the point of no return. Now, the only option left is to move forward. And such progress is impossible without developing empathy and discovering a source of joyful and meaningful life that we all must find.
Interview by Leonid Shokh
