I've reached a point where I can no longer ignore what's been gnawing at me. I see myself and many others succumbing to this addiction to what I call “insight porn”. We latch onto charismatic speakers, those confident voices that present information in a way that seems to simplify everything, and we take it as gospel.
I've been there. I've been one of the worst culprits of this, and I've come to realize that it's simply not productive. It's a dopamine rush, yes, but it's all too often devoid of real-world applicability.
Listening to someone confidently categorize the world into stereotypes, claiming to have the answer to everything, feels good. But the truth is that life is far more complex. No amount of confident speaking can encapsulate the nuanced reality of people's lives.
It's tempting to feel like we're growing and evolving just by consuming this insight porn, but I've come to see it as junk food for the mind. We might piece together a worldview from various videos and insights, but how do we know it's getting us anywhere?
We need to ask ourselves tough questions. Are we seeing results in our careers? Are we building stronger relationships? Are we achieving the things we so desire? If not, we must acknowledge that we might be stuck in a cycle of mental masturbation, consuming ideas that don't lead to real growth.
The real world is the ultimate test, and I've learned that I need to step out of this virtual bubble and actively test my beliefs. It's time to let go of insight porn and start doing things that lead to tangible results. It's time to face the complexity of the world head-on, without the pretense of easy answers.
I must challenge myself to do more than merely consume information. I must learn, adapt, and apply my understanding to the real world, even when it's uncomfortable or contrary to what those charismatic voices are saying.
After all, there's no substitute for living, trying, failing, learning, and growing in the real world. That's where the true insights lie, and that's where I'll find my way. It's time to shift from passively absorbing ideas to actively engaging with life. Only then will I know if my worldview stands up to the ultimate test. Only then will I be truly alive.