In today's political landscape, the divide between left and right ideologies is stark, but there is...
Managing the Neo-Scape: Remember What’s Real
Every day we live inside two realities, though we rarely notice the difference.
The first is the Neo-Scape — the artificial landscape of human-made constructs: money, jobs, social status, politics, even the online reputations. These things exist only because we collectively agree they do. A credit score has no meaning in a forest. A trending post means nothing to the weather.
The second is the Bio-Scape — the living world that exists independently of our beliefs or systems. Seasons change, weather shifts, life unfolds, and time marches on. The sun rises regardless of whether your boss is pleased. Birds sing whether your inbox overflows or not.
We live in both, but only one is eternal. The other is fragile, artificial, and often consumes far too much of our attention and you have to ask yourself, which one is upsetting you the most?
How to Recognize the Neo-Scape
The tricky part is that we confuse these two realities and spend far too many mental reps and effort in an artificial one.
The Tension
Most of our struggles exist in the Neo-Scape, not the Bio-Scape. Worrying about a colleague’s opinion, obsessing over financial “scores,” or feeling crushed by social comparison — these are rules we’ve agreed to play by. Inside the Neo-Scape, they feel as urgent as survival, yet they diminish outside it.
The Trap
We expend mental energy on these "agreed upon" problems. We carry stress in our bodies, lose sleep, and miss life’s simple pleasures — this is how we let the Neo-Scape cross over and affect the Bio-Scape. Step outside and feel the wind or watch the clouds: your Neo-Scape problems are invisible here, because they don’t belong to this world.
How to Manage the Neo-Scape
We can’t pretend the Neo-Scape doesn’t exist. We need it to coordinate, to pay bills, to navigate modern life. But we don’t have to let it dominate us. Here’s how to reclaim balance:
- Ask Reality Check Questions. Pause before reacting to stress and ask:
- Would this problem exist if the Neo-Scape didn’t?
- Does this problem exist naturally or has it been created because of the artificial rules we decided were important. These questions don’t make issues disappear but shrink their power over you.
- Reconnect with the Bio-Scape
Spend time outdoors without an agenda. Notice bark on trees, clouds, temperature, the sound of birds. These moments re-anchor you in what is timeless and real. The Neo-Scape obscures everyday miracles that will always be there regardless of the self perpetuating framework we've layered on top of nature. These are simple reminders of the amazing things that surround you, that will always be there and you are a part of it. - Reclaim Creative Power
The Neo-Scape thrives by hijacking our imagination and attention. Take some of that power back. Create something daily — a sketch, a meal, a song — without likes, approval, or payment. That act reconnects you with the Bio-Scape’s generative force and generates gratitude. - Problem Triage
Sort challenges into Neo-Scape problems (status, reputation, bureaucracy) and Bio-Scape problems (health, safety, meaningful relationships). Spend more energy on the latter. Many Neo-Scape problems atrophy when ignored. - Cultivate Community
Surround yourself with people who value the real over the artificial. Walk together, share food, and talk without keeping score. This weakens the Neo-Scape’s grip. These are typically where memories are made and again generates gratitude.
Why It Matters
No matter how elaborate the Neo-Scape becomes, we cannot escape the Bio-Scape, it is the foundation we exist on. We must breathe air, eat food, rest, and eventually face mortality. All while recognizing the Neo-Scape doesn’t mean rejecting society — it means putting it in perspective. It’s a temporary overlay, not the foundation of reality. The false structures of the Neo-Scape, generally exists to extract your power, and place it in higher control structures.
When we see the Neo-Scape clearly, we reclaim attention, energy, and creativity. And in that space, we regain peace. Because while reputations fade, accounts balance, and systems change, the sun will rise tomorrow. The wind will blow. The birds will sing. And the Bio-Scape will continue its magnificent work, whether we notice or not. Always remember your existence was derived from the Bio-Scape, but the Neo-Scape wants to be a layer between you, and the gifts granted to you by nature so that it can take a little bit from all of us.
