Lately, I have been thinking a lot about Brandolini's principle ("The amount of effort necessary to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than to produce it.") Bullshit seems to be a problem that invades much of our contemporary existence. It permeates our social media, politics, academics and even our personal relationships and everyday acquaintances. Honestly, I have found myself overwhelmed with the amount of energy it takes to be well-informed (and sane) in this day and age.
Given this rather troublesome malaise of modernity, I find myself at odds in how to maintain a relatively hopeful and optimistic outlook on the future. On the surface the world appears to be an indifferent, hollow place and that humans are bent on accelerating its final and ultimate demise. We, for all intensive purposes, function in a web of misinformation and an insipid cult of opinion. The internet has done two wonderful and equally malevolent things. It has 1. given everyone a voice and 2. given everyone a voice (Sigh, the paradox of vice and virtue).Where do we go from here and how do we combat the constant barrage of social media, personal critiques and combative politics?
One thing that I do find quiets my mind and gives me a momentary experience of tranquility are my daily walks in nature. It seems by going for a walk everyday I somehow cleanse myself of the EMF and ever-present white noise and chatter that seems inherently embedded from the moment we wake up until we lie down to sleep. Many great thinkers have also been advocates of a daily walk for good physical and mental health. Kierkegaard once said: Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Everyday, I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. " So, if you are feeling overwhelmed skip the booze and junk food and try going for a walk (no assembly required).