What if… This is it?
Thinking about what lies beyond our existence is perhaps the question we’ve asked ourselves the most as a species. What happens after death? What is God? Does He exist? Where is He? Is He a He? Did He come, create us, and then vanish into the universe? Today, during a conversation with some friends, the topic came up. Someone asked, almost out of nowhere: “Would you rather live a full life or press a button, know the truth, and die?” I was surprised that more than half the people at the table chose the second option.
Several of them started talking about human history, about how there’s so much we don’t know, and all the things that have been lost over the years. Naturally, the conversation started to drift. Out came the conspiracy theories, God as a concept beyond religion, the existence of energies, the pyramids of Egypt, mathematics, the possibility of this being a dream or being plugged into the Matrix—you get the idea.
Many of those who preferred the second option argued that they wanted it because, to them, it was obvious there’s something more—something that transcends the universe and its infinite possibilities, something out there waiting to be discovered. And, of course, they couldn’t imagine dying without knowing what that something was. I found it fascinating that someone even said the very possibility of a “greater answer” is what motivates them and gives them the energy to keep going.
On the other hand, another friend and I were arguing in favor of the first option under the premise that—even if there is a reason behind why we’re here—such realization is irrelevant to our existence, because we’re here to live, to make the most out of our time, to enjoy the world, nature, and try to live life to the fullest. We don’t believe there’s anything beyond this. Existence. Life. Sure, there’s a whole universe above us waiting to be discovered, one that will remain a mystery for hundreds—maybe thousands—of years to come. But precisely accepting that there’s nothing more is the revelation.
Personally, I came to this way of thinking after many years of existential questioning, breaking my head trying to make sense of life, which only led to deeper anxiety. After years of healing, and lots of reading about spirituality and a few things about Buddhism, I understood that searching for the meaning of existence—trying to find the answer—was, in fact, a barrier to reaching that answer itself. I realized that, yes, this is it. This is all we have, and all we’ll ever have. And for me, that’s the best way to live. In other words, I believe that is the great answer: this is it, this is the great revelation. Life is just life, and we’re here to live it.
It might sound redundant, or even confusing, because really, no one has the answer. It all comes down to what we believe—or rather what we want to believe. But even if we are connected to the Matrix, even if we’re part of a genetic experiment carried out by another species, even if we’re ants inside a giant particle or just someone else’s thought—we’re here to live in the present. This is it. This is the great revelation.
Or what do you think? You’d rather not think about this, right?
Thanks for reading.