Jason Silva is such a remarkable human being! He speaks with such passion, intellect, and gusto–it’s quite mesmerizing. Of this five-part series, this video is my favorite. 

 

The first time I watched this video was about 6 years ago. I thought it was revolutionary then–but as I’ve rewatched this more recently, I’ve begun realized how relevant it is.

This concept of “Death Anxiety” provides a great argument behind why so many people do the things they do, and their root aspirations in life. It really is applicable to everyone! If you pay close enough attention, it’s reflected through everyday customs & society. Speaking for myself, I don’t feel as if I am pigeonholed into just one of these “solutions”, but rather a medley of them all.

 

The Religious Solution

Coming from Kingston, Jamaica, I was born into a Catholic church. I went to Mass and Sunday School every week, and was enrolled into a private, all-girls, preparatory school. (Shoutout to Immaculate Prep!) When I moved to the U.S., we began going to–and practically lived in–a Christian church.

Now that I’m older, I’ve somewhat distanced myself from the church as an institution, but my faith has never wavered. I’ve always had a sound belief in God, and fully respect other cultures’ and religions’ interpretation of this higher power; “Many Rivers, One Ocean.” Spirituality will never-not be a part of my life, and I can see how my core values and beliefs drive my every day actions.

The Romantic Solution

The romantic solution is probably the most popular (and obvious) solution for the human condition. A movie without some sort of love interest in the plot is extremely sparse, and there are countless song lyrics about infatuation, heartbreak, & everything in between; [Can you name 5 songs or movies that don’t have anything to do with romantic interest?].

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love love! I’m definitely a *hopeful* romantic, and every time I see two people exchanging vows it makes me ugly cry. But I just don’t agree with putting all your happiness in the hands of another human being. That’s doing a disservice to yourself, and putting an unfair amount of pressure on the other person. Love can be used as a great distraction from our worldly woes… But I’d prefer to have a partner that is there & supports me while I fight my own battles, instead of purely as a “solution” to my troubles.

The Creative Solution

As for the creative solution,  I really like this one! I see it as motivation to make the most out of the time I have left on this planet. To me, this solution doesn’t need to be a physical manifestation; I’m not a power hungry person, and I don’t care about fame. What I do care about is how my interactions affect the people around me, and how to help others maintain harmony in their lives. Career wise, this translates into proving (to myself) that I can combine my love for people, culture & community with developing a positive work environment. (See I/O Psychology).

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

 

Which one of these three solutions can you relate to the most?