A World on the Edge: The Bipolar Reality of Power, Wealth, and Sanity
We live in a bipolar world—a world of opposites and extremes. The German word for "bipolar" is zweipolig, meaning "two-poled." This concept is evident in nature, such as the North and South Poles—two opposing points on a round planet with no true beginning or end. Interestingly, while we often associate the South with warmth, the South Pole is actually colder than the North.
But the most striking example of bipolarity is the widening gap between extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Wealth sits at the top pole, while poverty remains at the bottom, and the distance between the two is growing. Why? Because the very systems that create wealth for some also, knowingly or unknowingly, keep others from obtaining it. Greed and ego—more gently termed as an insatiable craving for more—drive this imbalance. What does one even do with multiple billions of dollars? The truth is, wealth on that scale generates itself at a rate faster than it can be spent.
Oxfam analysis of UBS (Union Bank of Switzerland) data reveals that “the richest 1 percent have more wealth than the bottom 95% of the world’s population” and “billionaires are exerting new levels of control over economies, with a billionaire either running or the principal shareholder of more than a third of the world’s top 50 corporations.” Additionally, Oxfam reports that “the top 1 percent own 43 percent of all global financial assets.” Meanwhile, homelessness surges, even among the most vulnerable—seniors, veterans, and single parents.
According to USA Today, in January 2024, over 771,800 people in the U.S. experienced homelessness on any given night—a staggering 18.1% increase from 2023. This occurred while the economy was thriving and stock markets hit record highs, fueled by corporate success. The contradiction is glaring: prosperity at one pole, despair at the other. While billionaires compete over space travel, millions sleep on sidewalks. While corporations hoard trillions, children starve. A single billionaire’s net worth could wipe out homelessness in multiple countries—yet it doesn’t happen. Why?
The Bipolar Nature of Humanity
Most people associate "bipolar" with mental illness—mood swings between mania and depression that drastically shift emotions, energy, and activity levels. The term itself reflects the concept of extremes, just like the North and South Poles. Mania can be likened to the North Pole—an electrified, high-energy state—while depression represents the South Pole, where things "head south" in decline.
The medical term bipolar disorder replaced manic-depressive illness in the early 1980s. But its recognition dates back much further. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician (460–370 B.C.), was the first to document two extreme mood states—what we now call depression and mania. Today, the condition is recognized in multiple forms, including hypomania—a prolonged, heightened state of creativity and focus—and rapid cycling, where shifts between mania and depression occur more frequently.
A former psychiatrist once told me that, to some extent, we are all bipolar. We all experience moments of intense energy and motivation, as well as periods of low energy and melancholy. But the extreme cases—the ones that lead to dangerous, irrational behaviors—are deeply concerning. And now, it seems that collective mental health is unraveling.
A World Spiraling Toward Insanity?
Insanity is often defined as a state of mind that prevents normal perception, behavior, or social interaction. In an informal sense, it also refers to something shocking or outrageous. If we look around, we see behaviors today that seem increasingly insane:
Drug and human trafficking
Mass shootings and other gun violence
Emotional and physical abuse
Murder
War and genocide
Cyberattacks and election interference
Manipulative advertising and media
Online bullying and social media warfare
The common thread? Greed, power, and unchecked ego—whether it’s billionaires hoarding wealth, politicians fueling division, or criminals preying on the vulnerable. And the result? A world where suffering is accepted as "normal." When I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2002, following personal and professional stress compounded by 9/11, I saw my own life through a lens of extremes. But now, the entire world feels like it is on the brink of madness.
We are at a breaking point. Will we wake up and restore balance before we plunge into irreversible chaos?
The Battle of Opposites: Power, Gender, and Energy
A "bipolar world" is often defined in geopolitical terms—where two dominant nations hold the majority of global economic, military, and cultural influence. Today, we see this playing out as world leaders grasp for power and control, often beyond what they should sanely pursue.
At its core, this struggle reflects a broader imbalance between masculine and feminine energy—two opposing forces that should exist in harmony. Too much masculine energy—focused on domination, conquest, and control—disrupts this balance, creating cycles of conflict and resistance. Likewise, the tension between Yin and Yang, light and darkness, is ever-present, requiring a delicate balancing act.
In Buddhism, the "Noble Eightfold Path" refers to the eight practices of right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration, which are considered the "Middle Way"—a balanced path avoiding the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification. It serves as a practical guide to living a life free from attachment to extremes and suffering. Each principle aligns with ethical and mindful behavior, a mental practice that calms and balances the thinking mind.
We don’t have to accept this bipolar chaos. The principles of mindfulness, ethical action, and conscious leadership offer a path forward.
A Call to Action
The systems that control power and wealth won’t change unless we demand it. The balance won’t be restored unless we take part in it.
What role do you play in this bipolar world?
Will you allow greed, power, and imbalance to shape the future, or will you push for a more just and humane world?
The choice isn’t just for politicians or billionaires—it’s for all of us. How will you act?