My daughters usually come home from school, and almost always have some dramatic story to share: “I can’t believe Suzy said that to Jenny.” Or “I can’t believe Jenny did that to Jane.” Or – “They are so mean – I can’t believe it.” Their lives are filled with constant issues. There is always something wrong.

And it’s not just my daughters. For exercise I usually run outside, and I often pass people walking and conversing. I overhear snippets of conversations, and almost always those snippits involve complaints or issues about others – something wrong with someone else – drama.

Humans are attracted to drama – We love it. We are not happy unless there is something wrong.

Drama gives us a sense of purpose. It allows us to think we have a vital role in the world – That there are “wrongs” that need our attention.

And it’s not just individuals. We have set up organizations to demand that something be wrong. Consider politics where nothing is right unless something is wrong. The survival of a political organization depends on something being “wrong” that need its attention.

And what about religion? Christianity has played the “drama” card perfectly. It has created the ultimate “wrong” through which its perpetual existence is virtually guaranteed – us. Humans were born wrong and need “fixing.” Religion to the rescue.

There is nothing “wrong” with drama – except that it sucks our time and energy for a purpose that is an illusion. Fixing each others’ problems is an impossible task. Problems are like snowflakes. They are unique to each of us. They exist in their own complex patterns to allow us unique opportunities to grow and evolve as individuals.

We spend a lot of time and energy on drama to provide ourselves with a sense of purpose. I can’t help but wonder whether that time and energy is better spent on a purpose which is not an impossibility. A purpose over which we have some control, a purpose where our time and energy are more wisely spent – To grow and evolve into better versions of ourselves.

Timothy Velner is a husband, father, attorney and author living in Minneapolis. You can follow his daily blog – a series of discussions between the worry-self and the present-self at – thespiritualgym.me