More than ever, we need ‘medical philosophy’…
Medical philosophy doesn’t mean pondering away about why doctors have terrible handwriting, or the cost versus benefit of a lobotomy.
Here’s a helpful excerpt to get us on the same page:
Epicurus practiced “medical philosophy” and insisted that just as the doctor treats the body, the philosopher must treat the soul. In his view, there was only one proper goal of philosophy: to alleviate human misery.
- Irvin D. Yalom, in ‘Staring at the Sun’ (2009)
I believe that one of the great causes of misery today is our disconnection from a sense of meaning in life. Appreciating the things that matter - and uncovering what really matters from things we often pass over in silence - helps us reconnect with meaning. When we get better at articulating the existential concerns that impact us, we grow closer to a sense of wholeness and vitality of being.
So that’s what I’m here to do: create an ongoing list of things - at least one per week for the rest of my life - that sparks existential awareness, vitality and appreciation for life itself.
The things may be:
An idea
A song
A work of art
A book
A historical event
A slice of pop culture
Anything else
Pretty broad, I know, but they will all have one thing in common. They will get you thinking about how meaning is everywhere, just waiting to be uncovered, understood and savored.
Over time, I hope that you will be able to see meaning brimming in the most mundane of things, and coalesce what you learn here into a strong sense of purpose.
Without further ado, let’s make meaning out of the madness, shall we?
Prelude: The Spirit of The Challenge
Before the official #1 entry in The Existential List next week, let’s get a little meta. And personal.
Creating a list of things that spark existential vitality that I will update for the rest of my life is personally challenging for two main reasons:
My desire to make markings on the wall of existence until I perish reminds me of my own impermanence. As someone who loves life, this thought often fills me with gloom and a bit of doom.
Its a lot of work, bruh.
But wait. Hidden in this challenge is the very thing I seek to dig up and share with you. One of the greatest wellsprings of existential vitality is voluntarily taking on life’s challenges, and reframing our attitude towards the challenges that appear before us.
As Joe Campbell says:
Where you stumble, there lies your treasure. The very cave you are afraid to enter turns out to be the source of what you are looking for.
- Joseph Campbell, in ‘Reflections on The Art of Living’ (ed. Diane K. Osbon)
In this spirit, allow me to reframe the challenge before me:
I will keep entering the cave of my fears to create something that will outlast me and be of service beyond myself. By sharing the things that reinforce my love of life, I hope to contribute to the sum total of existential fortitude in this world.
It is my honor to be able to take on this challenge. The work is worth it, bruh.
So, there it is. That’s my mission statement for The Existential List. I’ll see you next week. In the meanwhile, it would be great if you could reflect on this:
What challenge are you currently facing that could benefit from your active reframing and voluntary participation?
For inspiration, I leave you with how I imagine The Spirit of The Challenge that guides our way through the cave of our fears.
Love,
Yepi