The Superficialism of Unreality

Questions that cause us to pause and consider our own existence are called existential. They are questions that can push us deep into the realm of ideas that can be frightening for some and breathtaking for others. We may, individually, alternate between those spaces.

Take this question: What is reality?

If you sit for a moment and try to answer that question, what happens in your body? Does your pulse quicken? Do you suddenly feel a slight constricting in your chest? Maybe a little panic?

Let’s take a quick existential detour. . .

My older brother and I shared a room when we were kids. One night when I was eight or nine years old, we were talking about the vastness of space. I attempted to comprehend the question: if I reach the edge of the universe, what’s on the other side?

I fell asleep afraid that night.

Afraid of what I couldn’t possibly comprehend, and afraid because somehow I just knew there was nobody who could answer that question for me.

A few days ago, I listened to the TED Radio Hour hosted, at the time, by Guy Raz. The episode: Peering Deeper Into Space. One of the guests talked about the visible and invisible universe; that some scientists speculate that the universe is perhaps 30 times larger than the furthest reaches we can “see” with current technology. Any further out than that and the visible and invisible electromagnetic waves haven’t had a chance to reach us yet, they say.

And, still no answer as to what is on the other side of the boundary of our universe. Is there even a boundary?

So, what is reality?

Lexico.com defines it as “the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.” The Oxford dictionary says, “the true situation and the problems that actually exist in life, in contrast to how you would like life to be.” Merriam-Webster: “the quality or state of being real.”

So, what is real?

Our friends at Merriam once again: “actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed.”

I can feel my heart racing just a little bit.

What is real?

Do you feel like Neo about to make a choice of which pill to swallow?

Before I or anyone reading goes down the road of existential crisis, let’s take a few deep breaths and just focus on those breaths.

In and out.

Nice and slow.

In and out.

The point of that weird, little exercise is to open your eyes just a little bit wider.

Just because something exists or occurs in fact does not mean it’s important.

That is the substance of this concept of the superficialism of unreality. There are many things that are real but that are also unimportant. Of course, the vast majority of things and ideas fall into this category for most people. Maslow wasn’t the first person to point it out, but his hierarchy of needs does a fabulous job of illustrating what is essential. At the absolute minimum, our human bodies need food and water to survive. Like most other animals, we could live outside all the time, moving from place to place as our climate needs shift. So, you may even be able to argue that shelter isn’t really necessary.

For me, American football is unnecessary. There are millions of people who agree with me and millions who don’t. For me, it is in the category of the superficial. To sit down and watch a football game goes contrary to the life I want to live. As I’ve written before, I choose to waste my discretionary time in other ways. However, I fault no one who wants to sit down and watch football.

Identifying what falls into the category of unnecessary in our lives is a lifelong pursuit. Capitalism and consumerism (particularly in the United States) tell us that our aim should be to work insanely hard for money so we can acquire more stuff. However, there is nothing more fitting of the definition of the superficialism of unreality than acquiring capitalism and consumerism.

My personal goal for today is to identify just one thing — tangible or otherwise — that I don’t need and jettison it to the edge of the universe and beyond. Because, I only get to live on this pale blue marble for a finite number of years.

It’s time to stop being burdened with real things that really don’t matter.

Thanks for reading!