Philostophy

In recent years, we have witnessed a significant shift in the collective consciousness, as people from all walks of life are beginning to question the status quo and search for deeper meaning in their lives. This phenomenon, often referred to as The Great Awakening, has seen individuals from all corners of the world seeking out the truth and challenging accepted narratives that have long dictated our thoughts and actions.

However, despite the growing number of people embarking on this quest for knowledge, many still find themselves feeling unfulfilled, disconnected and unhappy. It appears that, in our pursuit of truth and happiness, we have become overly reliant on external circumstances to provide us with a sense of purpose and contentment. In doing so, we have lost sight of the ancient wisdom and philosophies that once guided humanity towards a more balanced and fulfilling existence.

This period should be seen as one of the most inspiring and hopeful times in human history. You’d expect to see people filled with joy and exhilaration. But that’s not what I’m seeing at all. The collective mood appears to be one of anguish, dissatisfaction, apprehension and impatience as most everyone seems to be waiting for something. Waiting for signs that we’re “winning.” Waiting to actually see some truth on the nightly news. Waiting for the justice phase. For Trump to come back. For Jesus to come back. Waiting to die so they get their reward for suffering. Just waiting. It reminds me of The Waiting Place by Doctor Seuss.

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come,
or a plane to go or the mail to come,
or the rain to go or the phone to ring,
or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.

I see people hyper-focused on external circumstances to inform them when it’s time to be happy again. And they wait.

It’s not to say everyone is sitting around twiddling their thumbs. On the contrary, I see many people striving to move the needle on the societal concerns we all know need changing. These efforts are indeed essential in our pursuit of a better world. But still, something seems to be missing.

I decided to do a little introspection to see if I had any of the anguish I was seeing in other people in hopes I might be able to figure out what this elusive missing piece may be. Instead, I found that I felt surprisingly… happy. What the fuck? How?

In the 6 years I’ve put myself out there in this movement, I feel like I’ve been put through a meat grinder. I won’t go into all of it, but some of you who have followed me may have seen at least some of the public stuff while entire groups of people went digging through my past and the private lives of my family members to find any dirt they could on me. It was like being a contestant on “This Is Your Life,” only it’s almost entirely made up to make you look like an asshole and the show host is satan.

Despite moments of feeling conscious and paralyzed while a sluggish flesh-eating disease devours me from the toes up, I remain optimistic. How is that? I think it’s because my focus has shifted from trying to change the world, to trying to change the world through changing myself. I’m led by a philosophy that the key to fulfillment lies not in the external circumstances that we often focus on, but rather in the development and cultivation of our character. I believe we are all here to push heroically through our own Human Revolution, transforming one’s life at the deepest level, and our mission is to leave this world a better person than we came into it.

I can’t tell you the peace it brings me to be guided toward a mission to be the very best person I can be rather than constantly fighting to change my every circumstance. And it’s made me feel a whole lot sturdier.

I realized the thing that might be missing from people's lives is a strong philosophy of living that makes them feel empowered and unshakably happy, no matter their plight.

In order for human beings to live a life of fulfillment, it is absolutely vital for us to have a philosophy that reveals the wonder, dignity and infinite potential of life. Every person is an irreplaceable, precious existence, and happiness comes from understanding that and living accordingly. Philosophy not only informs us of the nature of life, it has the power to transform our way of thinking and living. We need philosophies that offer tangible guidance, fostering self-awareness and personal growth, causing us to better ourselves and strive to reach our full potential.

That’s where true, unshakable happiness comes from.

What I'm seeing is anything but unshakable. Everything appears to hinge on what’s going on in the outside world.

In an era where every bit of information is literally at our fingertips, we’ve all but lost our connection to any real meaning. 

Probably nowhere is it more obvious than with our youth. Young people should be extremely passionate and idealistic, happy and hopeful. But today’s youth have almost no ideals at all.

Materialism, feverish consumerism, the abuse of every kind of comfort and pleasure has borne disillusionment, cynicism and apathy. The denial of spirituality, a proud disdain for anything supra-natural, and an absence of faith in a higher order of things or a true deeper meaning, have ironically left people with the feeling of floating out in space with nothing to anchor them into their life on earth.

While worthwhile causes can provide a sense of fulfillment, many individuals still find themselves caught in a perpetual cycle of anticipation, waiting for these external factors to bring them happiness. And it’s a terrible shame because life is immeasurably precious.

I’m even a bit concerned about what will happen when we “win” and people achieve temporary happiness, but realize once again that something is still missing. True happiness can only come from within, not from our circumstances. If your circumstances dictate your happiness, then it isn’t genuine nor steadfast, and it will inevitably be shaken. I believe this world is intentionally hard, and that we are literally here to be challenged in order for us to grow and develop our human spirit. We’ll never stop the cycle of problems and hardships arising in our lives, even when we experience occasional victories. The big win never lasts. 

While it’s indeed important to concern ourselves at times with the wellbeing of society, we should keep in mind that a flourishing civilization is made up of strong, happy individuals. By changing ourselves, we also change the world around us. It’s impossible for a living thing to change without affecting its environment. 

Throughout history, the strongest societies were the ones where philosophy played a central role in shaping the intellectual and cultural landscape. Ancient civilizations like those of Greece, India, and China developed rich philosophical traditions that explored fundamental questions about the nature of reality and life in general, and these concepts were deeply intertwined with everyday life, religion and governance. Philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle ignited humanity with profound inquiries into ethics, metaphysics, and politics.

It was through lighting that spark of deeper meaning in individuals that uplifted entire cultures. It wasn’t just about believing, it was about implementing these principles into daily life, philosophical praxis, that invigorated the lives of people and mankind collectively.

Having a strong philosophy is what gives life dignity, meaning and worth. And those are the values that you can draw upon when things get hard. Philosophy should be a beacon for people in darkness, a guide in confusion, and a lifeline to cling to in danger.

As I said earlier, I do think life is difficult by design, but not because we’re being punished. Rather, it’s a means for growth and self improvement. The hardships we encounter are opportunities to test our mettle, examine ourselves with unflinching honesty, and strive towards our full potential. It is only by embracing this journey and living up to our capabilities that we can truly attain lasting happiness.

If happiness is dependent on our circumstances, we get stuck on the never ending seesaw between joy and sorrow. A firm philosophy that causes us to live with honor and dignity is not only how we form unwavering happiness in our lives, I believe it is the absolute goal of human existence. 

In the end, it’s how you handle yourself in this life that matters. If you think about it, it’s really the only thing you can take with you. Most people find that in day-to-day life, it’s not so hard to be a good person and do the right thing. But where will your beliefs be when the chips are down? If faced with the worst circumstance you could imagine, will you have a solid foundation to stand on, or will you feel like you’re flailing? Will you find strength and fortitude, or will you crumble and wait for something or someone to save you? The way in which a man handles himself in times of suffering is the true measure of whether his philosophy has failed him or not. Can he remain brave, dignified and unselfish when faced with suffering? Or, in his bitter fight for self-preservation, will he forget his humanity and act more like an animal? 

These days, for many individuals, their religious beliefs serve as the primary source of their deeply held philosophy. In tandem with The Great Awakening, religious fervor seems to be on the rise. Despite that, however, I’m not seeing any great easing of suffering or profound strength or happiness being exemplified. Many seem to be stuck in a sort of spiritual quicksand, more consumed and dragged under by their beliefs than propelled forward.  And I’m still witnessing people focused on external circumstances to dictate their happiness or fulfillment. I want more for my fellow man.

In these tumultuous times, many find solace in the widely used expression “God wins” to soothe them into knowing that, in the end, everything is going to be ok. God wins, and as long as you aren’t a wretched person, you are on God’s team.

Well yeah, no shit God wins. Lol It’s God. Who’s going to beat Him? 

I’d like to use a basketball analogy here, because those of you who know me, know how very well versed I am in all types of sports ball. If you’re playing basketball and your team wins, yeah technically you win, too. But what if you sat on the bench for most of the game? And what if, in the 3 minutes you actually played, you accidentally scored a point for the other team, tripped over your shoelace, and hit the ground so hard you puked up orange Gatorade in front of everyone? Will the “win” of your team feel as sweet?

I have a feeling that God wants us to “play” well and diligently pursue our full potential, even if our team is going to win no matter what.

If one’s adherence to religion leaves them passively awaiting death so they can be rewarded for all the suffering they endured, honestly what’s the point?

It’s not to dog religion. If your religion gives you the strength and conviction it takes to continually improve yourself, and also the courage it takes to be happy and dignified no matter what your circumstance, then that is awesome! And totally valuable, in my opinion. This is all just about examining our beliefs with absolute honesty, to truly see how they impact our lives. Religion is supposed to help us through life, but only if we’re doing it right.

Unfortunately, many organized religions tend to keep people in a childlike state, without the ability to think for themselves, controlled by fear, and waiting for something or someone to save them, fostering dependency rather than empowerment. The expectation to accept doctrines without critical examination leaves individuals bereft of genuine understanding, their autonomy, independent thought and instinct subdued under the weight of dogma. It’s no wonder many people feel empty, conflicted and tense. We need to be able to think critically and use discernment to implement our philosophy effectively.

Challenging our beliefs is really what makes them take root and become a strength for us rather than an attachment. There are people who will fervently announce they won’t watch some of our shows on Badlands because the topics are outside of their currently held beliefs. If you ever find yourself thinking “I refuse to entertain ideas that I don’t already believe,” I implore you to break that chain in your mind. No truth will ever be threatened by rigorous scrutiny or challenge. If something is the truth, it will emerge victorious no matter how many times you put it to the test.

In the end, you have to find what resonates with you and what works in your life. I believe it comes down to finding what provides you with dignity, meaning, purpose, and unshakable happiness. Simply put, does your religion or philosophical framework really make your life better?

The happiness I’m talking about is not mere fleeting emotions of pleasure, but the pursuit of true fulfillment, and the peace and contentment that can only be achieved through being the best version of yourself.

The enduring wisdom and prescience displayed by the Founding Fathers in their drafting of the constitution comes to mind. I firmly believe they demonstrated profound insight in declaring our inalienable rights, such as the pursuit of happiness, and acknowledging the importance of a higher power while not attaching it to a particular set of religious beliefs or doctrines.

The inclusion of God in the framing of our country wasn’t about religion, it underscored the intrinsic value of man.

Our Forefathers understood that a strong and lasting society could not be built on anything other than a deeply profound reverence for man. The inherent worth of human beings, and their inalienable rights, could come from nothing less than a higher, transcendent power. Society exists for man, and not the other way around. This concept stood in contrast to the systems they were rebelling against that prioritized the interests of the state or ruling elites over the importance of individuals. Respecting the value of each person is essential for fostering a society that promotes human flourishing, fulfillment and happiness. The dignity of man is sourced in the Divine.

This dignity for human life is what I’d like to see us return to. In the population of “awakened” people that’s growing exponentially, I’m inspired to see the fostering of critical thinking and the willingness to share and challenge ideas openly and honestly, as these things are integral to discovery. However, I am concerned about the obstacles some face in examining their own personal philosophies, which should serve as a foundation for enriching lives, fostering personal growth, and providing strength in these turbulent and uncertain times. We have undoubtedly uncovered the divisive tactics of those in power, who seek to pit us against each other in every way. They want us to spend our time arguing against each other with closed minds, rather than working together to improve our lives. I’d really like to see the dialogue open up about the deeper meaning of the human experience and what we’re all collectively going through, igniting a new level of awakening that brings peace and joy to all people.