As David Foster Wallace states in his speech, "The capital-T Truth is about life BEFORE death." He eloquently describes our motions of life and our "default settings" of selfishness. Personally, I know that I've experienced all the symptoms of the "default setting" firsthand or perhaps, as I like to describe it, "the numbing circle of life" (unfortunately quite different from the Circle of Life in The Lion King). The term "numbing circle of life" is a continuous never-ending routine to life that makes a person rather incapable of feeling anything beyond or outside the "circle." In fact, you may be living in this "numbing circle of life" right now unconsciously completely unaware of it; exactly as Wallace describes in his speech: "operating on the automatic, unconscious belief that I am the center of the world, and that my immediate needs and feelings are what should determine the world's priorities."
But, haven't we already come to the consensus that the world is inherently selfish on several occasions? Books, movies, films and articles have all been mass-produced over similar thematic statements describing humankind's inherent selfishness or even evil.
Perhaps. However, those that will be stuck in this never ending cycle for the rest of time are people that have accepted their fates and downfalls to their inherent self. Failure is, of course, to be expected, but don't accept it as inevitable. Those that do so are simply fueling their "numbing circle of life," and in fact, may be causing it to go around even faster. Once again, a case of going through the motions. The motions of life and going into "the numbing circle of life" may certainly be inevitable, but finding even a second to break out of it can reveal "simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time."
You may think I only concentrated on all the negative aspects from Wallace's speech. This is not the case. Wallace makes several other spectacular points, but I just don't believe any parables, anecdotes or even discussion that I bring up on here will aid you towards breaking out of your "numbing circle of life." Each person's "default setting" can only be changed by himself/ herself. I believe I'm working on a way towards breaking out of mine, but it's solely up to you to find your own way.
Feel free to check out Wallace's speech below; there is a link to the written speech as well as a video. I enjoyed both simultaneously.
But, haven't we already come to the consensus that the world is inherently selfish on several occasions? Books, movies, films and articles have all been mass-produced over similar thematic statements describing humankind's inherent selfishness or even evil.
Perhaps. However, those that will be stuck in this never ending cycle for the rest of time are people that have accepted their fates and downfalls to their inherent self. Failure is, of course, to be expected, but don't accept it as inevitable. Those that do so are simply fueling their "numbing circle of life," and in fact, may be causing it to go around even faster. Once again, a case of going through the motions. The motions of life and going into "the numbing circle of life" may certainly be inevitable, but finding even a second to break out of it can reveal "simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time."
You may think I only concentrated on all the negative aspects from Wallace's speech. This is not the case. Wallace makes several other spectacular points, but I just don't believe any parables, anecdotes or even discussion that I bring up on here will aid you towards breaking out of your "numbing circle of life." Each person's "default setting" can only be changed by himself/ herself. I believe I'm working on a way towards breaking out of mine, but it's solely up to you to find your own way.
Feel free to check out Wallace's speech below; there is a link to the written speech as well as a video. I enjoyed both simultaneously.