By WILLIAM BETEET
December 1, 2017
“Search for ways to make the universe to give you what you want, not for how the universe should fit your narrative.”
From ideologues to religious fanatics, the world is not obligated to conform to your narrative. The universe is infinitely complex, the answers to most of life’s questions are nuanced and take time to understand.
When we are debating questions about human flourishing, don’t just quote a line from your religious text and act as if the questioning should stop there. If we are hosting an open forum about what economic theory is best, don’t just say “This is how people should act” and move on.
Because behind the words “should” and behind “faith”, are the answers to questions that could really lead human flourishing.
When we are working with an objective map, not distorted by unverifiable belief, we can make progress as cities, nations, and a species.
The universe is of no obligation to conform to your narrative.
From the belief in soulmates and destiny
There are courtrooms filled with people who thought they were destined to be married to their soulmates forever, only to find out that the idea of a future forever was just a vivid fantasy.
Let go of the idea that you are supposed to be something.
Let go of the idea that all of life is supposed to make sense.
The closest you’ll get to discovering destiny is to figure out the life’s processes. Repeated actions that usually lead to a particular result. The thing about studying processes is that your only goal is to get better at achieving the desired result.
Search for ways to make the universe to give you what you want, not for how the universe should fit your narrative.
