A Captivating Video That Sparks An Existential Crisis

Yesterday, I stumbled upon a video that completely rocked my world.

I must admit, I had shivers running down my spine, and goosebumps appeared as if I had encountered a ghost. Little did I know, I was about to have a full-blown existential crisis right there on my chair.

Of course, I couldn't keep this mind-blowing experience to myself.

I immediately shared it with my wife, Niki, over WhatsApp. Her response? 'I am stunned. I don't know what to think.' It was as if her CPU went into overdrive, trying to process the magnitude of what we had just witnessed.

Now, I won't spoil the video for you. I insist you watch it first. Trust me, it's worth it.

All caught up? Great! Let's dive into the story.

At first, it seemed innocent enough—an aspiring young boy training with his sword, the usual hero's journey, right?

Then comes the “spirit of seeing”. Ahh I know where you are going.

The I-see-all-future-events-therefore-no-more-excitement-and-become-emotionless plot right? So old school. Bleh.

But then, BAM!

The All-Seeing Device

It hit me like a ton of bricks. The 'all-seeing' concept suddenly became synonymous with the devices we carry around every day—the smartphones, the laptops, the ipads.

They grant us access to the vast world of the internet, where anything and everything is just a click away.

Initially, our curiosity leads us to seek knowledge and improve ourselves.

We want to know how the rich and famous live, where our favorite celebrities reside, and how they achieved their success.

But then, the rabbit hole gets deeper, my friend.

We start indulging in the outrageous lifestyles, the juicy gossips, and the never-ending dramas. It's like a gravitational pull towards the darker side.

We begin by wondering what people from other countries look like, appreciating their beauty.

But soon enough, we find ourselves seeking out the most 'perfect' figures and even craving to see them in their birthday suits.

I mean, who hasn't fallen into the rabbit hole of googling celebrities' nude photos? It's like a guilty pleasure we convince ourselves is 'research.'

And let's not forget about the glorious world of pornography. The desires become darker, the variety expands, and suddenly, just seeing vanilla isn't enough.

But here's the kicker: all this digital indulgence is taking a toll on our attention spans.

Remember the good ol' days of reading blogs?

Well, now, even compelling writing struggles to hold our attention. We've become video-dependent, unable to absorb information unless it's served on a screen.

Sometimes, even a 15-minute YouTube video feels too long. Cue the rise of YouTube shorts and TikTox, satisfying our ever-shrinking attention spans.

And guess what?

There's scientific evidence to support this phenomenon.

A study by Microsoft found that the average human attention span in 2013 was a mere 8 seconds (a gold fish has 9 seconds..), down from 12 seconds in 2000.

Blame it on the rise of digital technology and the constant onslaught of information bombarding us from every direction.

PMO Addiction and Self-Reflection

As someone who has battled with PMO addiction, the video struck a nerve when the boy went from seeing one naked girl to witnessing multiple women engaged in sexual activities.

It hit me hard because I saw myself in that character.

Especially the part where he brushed off the new hero archer, thinking that warriors don't fight from far.

That’s me. Jumping in to offer advice on topics I knew nothing about, teaching others what I learned online without applying it in my own life.

Who needs expertise when you have YouTube knowledge, right?

Reflecting on my own actions, I've realized I've given countless pieces of advice that I never followed myself. It was all about looking knowledgeable and good, even though deep down, I knew people didn't take it seriously because I lacked the experience.

Some of us even live vicariously through others, watching their lifestyles and dreaming of a similar existence, without putting in the effort to make it a reality.

We become spectators of other people's lives, content to watch from the sidelines while our own dreams and aspirations gather dust.

It's as if we've forgotten how to live, settling for the secondhand thrill of someone else's accomplishments.

What's truly terrifying is that we fail to see the threat in having such powerful technology at our fingertips.

The Threat of Technology

That innocent little phone seems harmless until we realize the damage it can do to our children's developing brains if left unchecked for hours on end.

It appears harmless and helpful, until we find ourselves addicted to mindlessly flipping through social media platforms, wasting away precious moments of our lives.

And let's not forget the never-ending cycle of comparison.

There's always someone richer, more beautiful, with a better car or a bigger house, just a click away on the internet. It feels like everyone else has it better, and the grass is perpetually greener on the other side of the digital fence.

As a result, we spend less and less time on what truly matters.

Why put in the effort when watching videos is so much more stimulating?

The pursuit of genuine fulfillment takes a backseat to effortless dopamine spikes. It's a vicious cycle that leaves us perpetually unsatisfied and constantly seeking the next quick fix.

Confronting the Unfulfilled Self

The ending of the video, where the main character drowns his despair by seeking out more naked girls, struck a painful chord.

It reminded me of those moments when my own videos failed to hit the mark, and I spiraled into a self-destructive mindset.

I became obsessed with achieving viral success, comparing myself to others who had hit home runs with similar content.

It was a ridiculous expectation, but I couldn't help myself. The need for more dopamine spikes to ward off depression took hold.

You see, the real hell is when we meet the person we could have become, but never did.

It's that moment of reckoning when we confront the wasted potential, the hours spent in idle consumption rather than purposeful action.

Embracing Change and Reclaiming Our Lives

So, my friend, let's heed the warning and recognize the power of these devices we hold in our hands.

Let's reclaim our attention spans, our dreams, and our lives.

Let's prioritize genuine connections over virtual likes, and meaningful experiences over mindless scrolling.

Because in the end, the greatest story we can write is our own, not one observed through the distorted lens of a digital screen.

It's time to break free from the chains of constant stimulation and rediscover the beauty of the real world that surrounds us.

Move forward, embrace change.

With love, my friends.

Andrewson