5 Ways To Overcome The Ultimate Human Obstacle: Being Too Conscious
“I am firmly persuaded that a great deal of consciousness, every sort of consciousness, in fact, is a disease.” –Fyodor Dostoevsky
Is ignorance actually the way?
Is it possible to be too conscious — having too much knowledge and awareness for our own good?
How ‘woke’ do we want to be?
How do you handle yourself when you achieve everything you’ve ever wanted, and realize that life, though beautiful, scientifically has no meaning and the only certainty is that it ends?
What do you do?
As genius professor and now world-renown author, Yuval Noah Harari says in his now classic book, Sapiens:
“As far as we can tell from a purely scientific viewpoint, human life has absolutely no meaning. Humans are the outcome of blind evolutionary processes that operate without goal or purpose. Our actions are not part of some divine cosmic plan, and if planet earth were to blow up tomorrow morning, the universe would probably keep going about its business as usual. As far as we can tell at this point, human subjectivity would not be missed. Hence any meaning that people inscribe to their lives is just a delusion.”
And if those statements by Harari and Dostoevski aren’t true, then why do people at the top of their fields, succeeding in all facets of existence from every angle, go out of their way to end their lives?
Anthony Bourdain traveled the world and ate food, but couldn’t handle the futility of it all.
Robin Williams made the world laugh with comedy and hung himself.
DJ Avicci was twenty eight years old, flew around the world making music, partying for a living and decided to end it at that.
Why would these self-actualized first-world legends take their own lives?
As Sebastian Junger writes in his best-selling book, Tribe:
“As wealth in a society goes up, suicide and depression go up.”
Why do people who have everything choose not to live anymore?
Meanwhile these were very ‘conscious’ people, enlightened and aware, knowledgeable and awakened.
Shouldn’t they have been able to ‘override’ their inner thinking algorithms that make them so conscious? Or is it actually all so futile?
The dictionary definition of consciousness is:
“Aware of and responding to one’s surroundings, awake.” It’s also defined as: “having knowledge of something, aware.”
As Dostoevsky suggests, can we be too conscious? What does that mean and what does it entail?
To me, too much consciousness is analogous to protecting a child from watching a scary movie so they don’t get nightmares about it during their sleep.
It’s a bit like why the brilliant mathematician, Dr. Eric Weinstein of Thiel Capital says:
“People who try to make sense of everything tend to end up going crazy.”
We can’t make sense of it all, and yet, we let go and embrace the uncertainty that comes with nothingness, we’re lead to a futile state of nihilism, without purpose or meaning.
What do we do when we face a crisis like this?
There’s no better a tortured thinker to explore what comes with too much consciousness than Fyodor Dostoevsky. In Notes from the Underground, Dostoevsky does just this.
The lesson: be conscious of your consciousness.
“For man’s everyday needs, it would have been quite enough to have the ordinary human consciousness, that is, half or a quarter of the amount which falls to the lot of a cultivated man of our unhappy nineteenth century, especially one who has the fatal ill-luck to inhabit Petersburg [or any Cosmopolitan city].”
It’s never been easier to be more conscious than today, with so much access to information, and a positive human spirit that’s become engrained in the mainstream. Changing the world and solving problems for the better are a part of the human fabric.
This is the greatness of man, consciousness and human nature. Our nature for survival makes us capable of the darkest things, in order to survive and thrive.
And of course, whilst believing we’re doing well. This is how we know that the human being, no matter what they do are inherently good.
Yet we’re able to overcome and override such forces, with forgiveness and compassion in even the most dire times.
In the old days, you only had what your parents and people immediately around you would tell you, and the information that came from the powers that be.
Now we have everything we could possibly want to know at our fingertips, leading to more and more knowledge and awareness from all things ranging from how the brain works to why we do what we do to technology that makes it all so easy to consume.
It’s never been easier to be ‘woke’.
It’s not surprising, therefore, that as wealth in a society goes up, so does depression and suicide. We see the best of our Instagram friends and follow the best in the world. Therefore, we’re reminded on a moment to moment basis who we aren’t and what we don’t have.
So how do you stay conscious of your consciousness?
Acknowledge You’re Emotions And Feelings Are Algorithms For Survival
“Selfish genes explain altruistic individuals and to me that’s crystal clear.” — Dr. Richard Dawkins
Every feeling you have and action you take is intended to keep you alive. Whether it’s guilt from not being productive (so others may survive off you) or fear that keeps you under constant stress.
Only the paranoid survive.
It’s all an algorithm, the human algorithm that increases your chances for survival. Otherwise it really doesn’t matter what you’re doing, when you do it and for what. Take comfort in this knowing that whatever you do ultimately doesn’t matter — so make yourself happy.
This of course does not mean to live for the short term and/or be reckless, because happiness comes from meaning, which comes from positive empowering routines and rituals that make you improve and grow — and that is all free.
This is for those who are striving to develop themselves but run into roadblocks and/or
Just recognize everything you think is because of a program and that you can
change the programming to change how you feel at any given time. Bask in this knowing you’re always fine.
Use The “Letting Go” Technique To Relinquish Feelings
“If we let go of guilt, we will see innocence; however, a guilt-ridden person will see only evil. The basic rule is that we focus on what we have repressed.” Dr. David Hawkins
Learning how to let go of feelings may very well be the most profound thing you do. Why? Because feelings dictate so many of our actions, thoughts and moods. When we resist them, they make us feel worse.
In fact, Dr. David Hawkins profound book, Power Vs. Force, his thousands of experiments show a thought has the power to physically strengthen or weaken the body.
Hawkins shares thousands of anecdotes where thoughts of forgiveness and gratitude make someone physically stronger while thoughts of negativity make them physically weaker.
As a habit, find a thought that makes you strong and keep it in your back pocket anytime you need to feel good.
Embrace The Futility Of Life To Take Risks
Someone once told me the definition of Hell: “On your last day on earth, the person you became will meet the person you could have become.” — Anonymous
Do things that scare you and push you every day. If you have a job, wake up early to make your film, write your book I let myself get caught up in a tiny spat that got out of hand with my girlfriend. Though they very much were regarding what we’d often consider ‘serious’ issues that would stress anyone out in a relationship
You’re on a journey playing a game. Just have fun with it.
Decide You’ll Never Not Be Happy Again
“Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford
Anytime you have a negative thought just catch it and turn it on it’s head. As a sentient being with the power to control his consciousness, you can alter you’re state and decide what you focus on.
In this video, Tony Robbins tells a recently divorced depressed man to recall a time when he had the best orgasm he could remember. The man instantly changed his state and mood.
This is a hard one I’ve been practicing for a while, and it takes repeating. What you’ll learn is that you actually derive a lot of meaning and significance from feeling bad.
This may sound sick but it’s true.
You can be happy if you decide you won’t accept unhappiness.
Practice Gratitude To Taste More Of Your Moments
“Replace expectation with appreciation and you’ll change your life.” Tony Robbins
Your point of view and world view is just that, YOUR point of view and world view. So is your cup half full or empty?
This is a cliché for a reason, because it’s profound. And how you see things
It’s your job to decide you’ll take on the day with deep gratitude so you can appreciate more of what you have so you can be ready to handle what you’re striving for.
Write down twenty things you’re grateful for every morning
Use Religion As A Tool
Religion is great because it creates a series of routines and rituals that give meaning to people.
It’s also taught through stories — making it easy to understand and apply at scale.
You can pick any religion, as it’s the intention and how you use it that really matters. I really like Buddhism because it’s about minimalism, focusing on less instead of desiring more and matching expectations and reality. Kabbalah is also great — ultra pragmatic. I discovered this from Ashton Kutcher who practices it and he’s a great guy.
Conclusion
Most people will never reach a level of consciousness that makes this article worth reading.
Most people go through their days with little to no agency — responding to their environments, surroundings, news, egos, thoughts and inclinations without question.
They watch the news without thinking for themselves.
They listen to the radio and it shapes their worldview.
They don’t have time for books, because they’re too busy, without knowing they’re giving up their chance be free.
Do they have it right? Is ignorance actually the bliss we seek? Why has so much of the population remained ignorant then? Perhaps that’s the luxurious evolution that happens when we stop focusing on food and security.
When Joe Rogan asked Elon Musk about his insane creativity and genius that comes with a constant mind that can’t be shut off, Musk gave him a vulnerable look and with all seriousness said: “it’s not always good”.
Musk has admitted publicly to have bipolar disorder with severe bouts of depression.
I was sitting in a Starbucks watching people walk in and out — getting their donuts and muffins while I sat there writing on my third day of fasting.
Most of them were overweight and many obese.
Do they have it right or do I?
As I sat there, I was contemplating diet trends in America and was doing risk analysis on a fast/casual restaurant I want to invest in.
Am I at risk of investing in a concept that isn’t ultra healthy and low carb?
And then it hit me — people want to be fat and ignorant, this is the luxury of our era. It’s allowed and is now the way. We’ve succeeded. Now we’re dealing with the dark sides luxurious first world problems.
I became at ease and decided right then there’s no risk at all and to proceed with the investment.
Is it better to be conscious or better to stay asleep?
Seems the more asleep at the wheel we are, the less we kill ourselves and the more immediate purpose we have.
What do you think?
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