Byung-Chul Han’s Warning: Why Modern Life Feels Emptier Than Ever

[@CaveyMoth]

Life was a lot better when I was a kid, without the ability to purchase whatever I want whenever I want. I used to want things for a long time, which made it incredibly rewarding once I was finally able to obtain them.

[@danijelhorvatincic9224]

For 95% off the world this is the truth...the rest just take it for granted...

[@CarlCampbell]

100% this. Being able to have whatever you want almost immediately, be it a date, a meal, a product, experience, etc really messes with your reward system (dopamine) and makes you less resilient to discomfort and inconvenience. 90% of the satisfaction of achieving anything are the moments leading up to it, and the more we insist on reducing the time required to get whatever it is we want will just spell disaster for humankind.

[@tomsmith7043]

I miss going to the video store to rent a movie. It made it an event and something me and my dad loved doing together.

[@Troca.]

Yeah, as a kis my mother would give me 200 Escudos a week, something like 0.70€ today. I would save for music cd's , each cd would take me months to save for. And I would then play the same cd for nonstop, for days 😅...I built that collection for years...

[@who_s_afraid]

Gosh, I'm envious reading this.

[@gunnasintern]

starting off Friday morning with a new Einzelganger, i’m very glad to prefer to live in the present instead of constantly chasing status

[@comradestannis]

I needed this.

[@TheOAHistory]

Return to Contemplative Living: Han suggests that to combat the relentless pace of modern life, we should embrace a return to the “vita contemplativa”-a life of reflection and lingering, which allows for deeper engagement with time and meaning.

[@Omar-yj8gb]

15h is morning

[@Patriotx-gx4ce]

Strip away all what stays you and present with all Power within us! All that matters back to basically and all else comes back. Body needs to move,kind relaxes after and inner look connecting with yourself on Creation level.

[@sylvarogre5469]

Ah, but living in an ever present now is also atomized time.

[@shiptj01]

Cutting back on the 40 hour work week would be a step in the right direction.

[@dwight246]

Facts!

[@Wkumar07]

This is one of the best KZbin channels. Thank you for putting the work in creating these.

[@Ronniezim]

It seriously is. These videos are all A++ It would be cool if he had a discord or something where the community could come together to discuss these books centered in the videos. I’d kick him some cash to be a part of that…

[@Wkumar07]

@Ronniezim or even a fairly active Reddit page.

[@d.nakamura9579]

Insightful video. Well done!

[@Appollochan]

Thanks for this video, this is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I've been spending a lot of time consuming mindless youtube content, often while multitasking and finding myself just so exhausted. One week I believe I watch ed about 60 hours of youtube in one week. Now I limit my self to a couple of hours a day of videos like this and try to spend the rest of the time practicing Chinese or reading. I can say things feel a lot better as a result.

[@matthewwohlars7707]

I’m

[@kellllllen]

You are one of if not my absolute most favorite person to watch, thanks for making such insightful and entertaining videos man!

[@comradestannis]

I think we also need a sense of "awe" and kinship to nature. Without feeling awe or appreciation of nature, you're more likely to be dead inside, or feel that way.

[@Ronniezim]

I agree 100%. I think slowing down as discussed in this video enables one to “see” the extraordinary beauty in nature. At least that’s how it worked for me..

[@comradestannis]

@Ronniezim I think that's how it worked for a lot of people.

[@runswithraptors]

No one sees stars or the night sky anymore and instead are locked into their cages and screens 😢

[@PakRT48]

The world today is more connected than ever in human history, yet at the same time more isolated than ever in human history.

[@davidyule3605]

Beautiful. I love to contemplate in nature. Meditation helps me to let go of time. Your video reminds me to make more room in my life for contemplation.🙏🏼

[@Axis.Mundis.]

3:30 LOST was the last show that with a cult following and released weekly creating this exact thing he’s referring. All week leading up to new episodes everyone would theorize on what they thought was gonna happen, has happened and suspected Easter eggs. We would have viewing parties growing up for tv shows and of course LAN parties. I miss that…

[@noseefood1943]

Start by quitting social media

[@ws43]

Biggest tangible change in my life was this.

[@UnknownXlll]

I did that too and also blocked my toxic family and friends I am feeling tired from existing and surviving I try to live again with my rules

[@CollectionOfTheTimeless]

And we forgot that KZbin is social media aswell

[@blackandcold]

youtube is social media.

[@blackandcold]

unhook addon

[@williamramos3350]

The only thing I can say is to just do what fulfills you. Mental collapse has made me realize this. I am over the whole (society). Be you and do you.

[@Dowinohue]

I feel like time slows in moments of human connection. Whether that be a conversation, shared witnessing of a performance, flaying home human creation and art in an attempt to connect with humanity… on those moments, it feels like we have all the time we will ever need… an hour can feel like a week, while the grind of the week, feels like an hour, bc so much of it feels void of meaning.

[@kayleighdriessen]

Kinda ironic fact is that when you don't spend excessive time on filling your mind with thoughts on worrying about your future or lingering over the past and instead make of what you can and will with the present moment and put your trust in the universe, you feel much lighter and find more meanigfulness wherever you look and go. Therefor a society that sells the idea of love or meaning or connection etc is bound to become one who's citizens feel lost and empty inside.

[@its_amanagrawal]

Funny how so many of us will find it difficult to stop from watching another video after watching this. I.e. using time vs contemplating

[@PacificEnigma]

I think the problems we face today have a root in education too. Now more often than not parents don't spend any meaningful time with their kids, taking their time to teach them about life trough stories, games and experiences. Is juts a matter of scolding or throwing some recycled words that they might have heard in past form their parents or others, lacking any meaning. Even worse now young parents are simply giving phones, computers and consoles to their kids more as a form of escapism. To escape from the responsibility of having to deal with it, to take your time to understand your own child. Back when I was a kid even console games or technology were meaningful, there was no chase to finish a game as fast as you can or anything close to that. You were enjoying the game and it would connect you with others as well. Friends would come over and we would play together, having fun and then we would go outside talking about it for a bit. We would just walk around without a defined purpose just enjoying the moment. Almost everyone now has this mentality of pushing harder and chasing success and material gratification that in turn attaches to you a sense of greed. Once you have the power and resources to get what you want you will want more, because you never took the time to appreciate the small things in your life. There is no destination to arrive at in life, is like a school trip the best part of it is the company that you have at your side, the fun moments where you act silly with all your friends at the back of the bus. And once you arrive it might not be as incredible as you might have imagined. I think this is where the secret lies the people that we surround with and our minds, with the right person you can have fun and make a mundane activity something out of an adventure book. I will give this last example to conclude my take on this. I used to go with my cousin when we were kids in nature, around a river and explore around it looking for cool rocks or sticks, making all kinds of stories using our imaginations actively as we were experiencing things in real time. We would create stories or legends about things that we might have though we would have saw or pretend that we have legendary swords and powers. And if you would see the reality of how that place was, it wasn't amazing at all no crazy sights or things to do, but there was no need for that we had everything we needed in our brains. So as long as you learn how to be bored, how to enjoy small things in your life and apply some shift in perspective to see life rom different points plus the company of people that have similar visions as yours, I think you could spend time in an empty boring room and have the time of your lives.

[@pangusgeorge]

I very much liked the vita contemplativa vs vita activa conclusion of the video. Very good advice. I wish I could live this way. This world just won't let you slow down....

[@irishdude1988]

This is perfect timing. I literally googled "how to slow life down" earlier lol. Just feels like life is whizzing by, and theres so much of everything these days its like a never ending chase and struggle to keep up. Instead of trying, today I'm just going to sit in quiet contemplation for a period of time, and really take stock of my life and indeed, life in general. The older I get, the faster life goes by. I think sometimes it's good just to let the mind wander

[@reverist.998]

If you can sit with yourself in silence, remove yourself from the external and internal noice. You already have solved 95% of your problems. -Eckhart Tolle

[@clintonlobo5094]

So enlightening, thank you for sharing 🙂

[@LivingAncestor1]

Thank you for motivating to start my KZbin channel I appreciate you a lot ❤❤ I hope everything goes according to plan 🤞🏻

[@comradestannis]

Good luck!

[@LivingAncestor1]

@ Thank you Comrade

[@paulm7826]

Instead of using time, linger in time. A beautiful sentiment. Thank you, Einzelganger.

[@oceantransistor]

I know not everyone can do this but I gave myself a lot of time to do nothing that most would call productive or entertaining. I took a whole year to just read, relax and spend time with family. A year to just really work on my thoughts and health. I reflected on who I was and how satisfied I was with life. I can honestly say it was time well spent. I am a better person for it and that matters more than material wealth to me. I wish more people had the opportunity to do the same.

[@AustereHare]

i have found a way to carry vita complentiva into work. for vast tracts of my work i simply meditate. its similar to the type of meditation you can do while mindlessly dancing yoga. i mindlessly dance my work. feels good.

[@SujanShounen]

Happiness and sadness depends on your thoughts and preferences. World has nothing to do with it. -as long as you remember my word you definitely will find a peace !!

[@ahmedrzaki5189]

Thank you for this. it's one perfect video added to my favorites as usual from this channel.

[@CobyDreamerr]

your videos always put things into a new perspective for me, it always eases my soul! thank you!

[@waelfaraj6705]

In comptemplative times , we relax , allow thoughts to float , reflect and refine or restructure even ... A balance or harmony between work and life ...

[@felicitysmoak1860]

what a great video and content, it gave me new perspective in life which i impossible to think by myself.

[@phillipchavez1321]

📝 05:20-06:32 fear of missing out and the experience of long duration of time

[@newroad25]

This comes just in the right time. Thank you.

[@alanscaria3514]

Truly amazing. Thanks for sharing the wonder of this existence.

[@jayzee4097]

Reminds me of the The Frankfurt School. And I think that the issue is that we must fix ourselves, through self actualization, in order to succeed in a society where life milestones don't exist, so our labor, and our lives, become wrapped around becoming a brand of neoliberal perfection instead of flawed humanity inside a community of other flawed humans. Of course this causes a whole host of issues including a lost sense of time, but I don't think that transcendentalism or neo-traditionalism are the answers because I'm inclined to agree with Fisher in that we've lost, and there is revolution that. However, those of us that live outside of the system, by choice or because we've been forced to, understand that the only option is to join or fail in this society, so there really isn't an answer or a revolution, other than the one that produces the most money, coming.

[@woolybullybananapeel8642]

✨Thank you Einzelganger!✨

[@chrisnicolaou3871]

2 Einzelganger videos in one week? We are on Hedonism grounds!

[@7gibbens]

Just what I needed right now. Thankyou 😊🇦🇺

[@raqueldeshow9678]

I needed to see this today. Thank you

[@John-vp1ej]

Massive shoutout to 15:01. I serioiusly wish more youtube essayists would say "In my own words..." to ACTUALLY prelude them. Too often people attribute the things they say to a thinker they are looking into, and while 'in the ballpark' mostly - these constantly slight (and sometimes large) distortions do unfortunately erode the most substantially precise reading of a work. So while its a small thing, I actually really respect you doing that - claiming your own words is powerful and even more so when spoken elegantly and accurately. (Loved your book btw!) Keep up the great work! cheers!

[@musically3626]

Great as always

[@khannatraders435]

Every video is thought provoking. Thank you

[@HarvestStore]

My Problem With Sisyphus 1) no speed - how fast 2) what direction - he could push it around the mouton 3) can he talk to any one 4) does he have to keep hands on it - push with back 5) when the rock rolling down - does he have to run after it or take nap 6) halfway up and a bar there - can he go in 7) Endless question - Prof they were ideas

[@vikgrisel97]

All the people around me run as if they were in a race where there is no finish line... They run and run, they suffer because they don't have enough time Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing things wrong, but then I tell myself that I'm very lucky, because I have time, because I have peace of mind and nobody can take it away from me I don't have to compare myself. Even so, social pressure is very strong.

[@lobiaking8318]

I’ve been chilling my whole life youth was good but now I’m stuck in a low wage job. Should have kept myself busy with studying and internships …

[@dutchdude123]

I’m always wondering if you don’t run run run, don’t you have to work, study or feed your kids…. Is it all about the money?

[@nathanrakaaprilian5338]

​@@lobiaking8318 don't take that as an excuse to don't work at all, what that mean is you don't wanna sacrificing your inner peace to endless works that lead to burnout, some amount of work is necessary but anything that is too much is bad (like wise work and leisure)

[@vikgrisel97]

@@lobiaking8318 In my case, I rest, but I focus 100% on studying. I think we have to find a balance... I don't want to sacrifice my mind or my body I want to find a well-paid job, but I know my limits and I know my capacity, I can't study and work at the same time... It's about not letting the system corrupt you and exhaust you. There's plenty of time ahead.

[@vikgrisel97]

@@dutchdude123 That's what they want you to believe

[@Ras_Spinoza]

Sometimes, living in an atomized time is not entirely our fault when the systems around us are designed to force us to live that way.

[@WayneBarton-u2n]

Being a LONE WOLF 🐺 isn't perfect but it's WELL worth it.

[@thebronze59]

Exceptional video, I have no affinity with modern "rat-race" life with all is stupidity. Thank you.❤

[@elysianfields1671]

Because people are finally understanding life is meaningless and pointless, and they don’t know how to deal with that amount of freedom.

[@PercyJackson93]

Why would people only think that suddenly now?

[@elysianfields1671]

@ it’s becoming more and more evident for the majority of the people, what previously was understood by philosophers only.

[@PercyJackson93]

@elysianfields1671 I'd have thought the opposite. That the few philosophers were the few who found a meaning in life. I have heard religion was more common in the past though so I guess with that people are slowly losing their purpose or a clear path in life. I was just curious what other reasons there might be

[@Yancey_Thompson_IX]

Long time watcher, first time commenter. Always love your work, thanks for doing what you do! Just wanted to push back a little bit on the one point you made regarding polyamory. Not all polyamory is the fast, non-commital, short-term only style you describe. There are absolutely polyamorous relationships which “go the distance,” just as there are with monogamous ones. Not all polyamorous people are serial daters. Indeed, as you rightly point out, many monogamous people are quite promiscuous in this regard, much moreso than the average polyamorous person! Just wanted to share an alternate perspective to the one you posit here. Thanks again for the videos 💜

[@CraigStCyrPlus]

We have been conditioned to being kept busy in order to earn the money to afford happiness. While I agree that a planet with aimless souls is a very dangerous idea, nobody needs to put on an apron and serve fast food at 7am. We are better than a lot of what we diminish ourselves to - in the perpetual cycle of 50hrs of work for 48hours of rest.

[@comradestannis]

We need to unionize, tbh, but even then, it's not a panacea, and work culture entering your own leisure is not good.

[@CraigStCyrPlus]

@comradestannis The framework was made with the industrial era and what they thought began as a way to make their lives easier, it only ended up increasing the demand from each of them because now all the tasks from before became automated. It logically should have gone the other way and freed us up for creative and intellectual or industrial endeavours, but instead we're on forklifts loading millions of dollars of goods for a country we've never visited.

[@comradestannis]

@@CraigStCyrPlus yeah, agreed. That's why we have to organize, but again, no sure fire way to deal with this problem. We live on a surplus of materials and wealth yet most people won't have or enjoy it.

[@CraigStCyrPlus]

@@comradestannis Humans driven by either their fragile egos or mindless greed who make too much impact on society have always been society's cancers. This road has been driven by us for so long that the vehicle we started with no longer resembles anything recognizeable.

[@jays903]

If you are buying happiness, than you don't understand happiness.

[@DaoshiBo]

If you’re not where you are, you are nowhere.

[@joranvandersluis]

Can it also be " everywhere?"

[@nias3202]

Thank you! I'm going to read "in search of lost time" by Marcel Proust to find some peace.

[@LuisFlores-mc2tc]

There is no solution in this world. To fully appreciate comes from deprivation. In a world that just wants to fill your head with some kind of task or knowledge. It becomes nearly impossible to find center unless you cut ties. This is the touture of the human condition. It's the inability to truly enjoy the present moment in this dizzing, fast-paced world.

[@TheAkiller101]

I lived more in the past 6 days than I have in the past 6 months. Only difference "Viva Contemplativa".

[@Hakusiyah2]

So good I Wonder what his take is on weed It helps me to slow down and live in the moment

[@MrPixel-qh4pr]

Imo, Dependency can't be good in that once the high is gone, you'll need more to compensate. I do agree that it does help put things in perspective. Also, employers drug test

[@BBlooger]

Employers drug test? Quit that job.

[@1jazzybella]

Thanks!

[@Carole616]

If you really want to change your life for the better, I would recommend the book Stolen Focus by Johann Hari. It is the most important book I have ever read.

[@Dowinohue]

What was your biggest take away from it?

[@Carole616]

@@Dowinohue There are so many but one is that internet addiction is destroying our focus, concentration, and wasting valuable time that could be spent in much more meaningful and enjoyable ways. The book has 12 different ways to learn to think deeply again. My take away at the top is not even a good example of how life changing this book really is.

[@jeskodrews5796]

Meditation guys. Meditation.

[@henriquekatahira1653]

If there is anyone who is truly picking up what is happening with our society, his name is Han Byung-Chul…

[@HarvestStore]

Great video.

[@paulwhite5886]

I'm definitely going to linger more 😊

[@MahmoodsVLogs]

In my experience Ramadan is a month of test for your physical and mental toughness. It's not for the weak. You must give up food sex and drinks or any thing that is against God rules. Ramadan makes you strong from inside out.

[@MurraysVlogCast]

Stellar! 🖖🥳

[@XXXXBossXXXX]

good video!

[@DansCoveredWagon]

Thank you

[@dizzybee7386]

My counsellor taught me to notice the present. Not the task at hand, or the counting down to a deadline. Wildlife, weather and seasons teach me this. I watch the behavioural patterns of plants, birds and insects in my garden in relation to the time of year, weather and season. The hardest place to do this in institutional buildings, like hospitals, offices, civic buildings etc. where everything is orthodox, commensurate and square. It can still be done with the right frame of mind, however. Watching the movements and clothing of people around you; that busy door with a squeak; the tone of voices and relation to whether or not it's sunny outside. Is it a Friday? 9-5pm workers have hot feet and ache to leave. Is it a Thursday? The same folk are brash and irritable because of a Friday deadline, dictated by their boss/client. Every evening around 5pm, flocks of rooks caw and flutter in the skies around my town. It's as if their debating among themselves as to the best roosting place for the night. This goes on for up to an hour. The roads are busy with commuters coming home from work: perhaps they are wise to heavy traffic, meaning roadkill and waste from fast-food restaurants. Perhaps this is their magic hour, as they follow the patterns of man and benefit from his rituals. I think they do. But every so often, there are no rooks to be seen, even on the busiest rush-hour. I look for these gaps in routine and ask questions. My counsellor taught me to notice the present. Patterns can be depressing, but what you find betwixt can be profound.

[@NatalineN]

Thanks

[@hiTekHOBO55]

thx buddy... 🫵😉

[@comradestannis]

Capitalism does this, but can even be found sometimes in socialism because many governments want productivity and so do the industries and corporations. So people are primed for productivity above all else. But the quality of the work and the quality of what you do goes down when it's not sustainable.

[@Dowinohue]

Productive can be extremely fulfilling. I feel that capitalism in most instances, disconnects workers from the reward of the work they do. Feeling powerless in many ways, regardless of who they spend their time doing work for. Greed is the primary cause imo… and a big driver for maintaining capitalism.

[@comradestannis]

@@Dowinohue Growth for profit, but not for human needs.

[@Dowinohue]

@@comradestannis even growth for profit I think can be rewarding in a co-op environment where the collective of workers have some ownership and say in how the profits are used. The difference of owning the value created, and being owned.

[@comradestannis]

@@Dowinohue yeah

[@EarthWindFireable]

It's "Running the streets." People can't stay home and just mind their own business. Gotta run from person to person, activity to activity, shopping here and shopping there. Gotta be in everyone's face.

[@Random-ne3ed]

Sounds like a you problem

[@EarthWindFireable]

@Random-ne3ed Nah, not my problem. You sound personally offended.

[@happymonday1000]

Very well put. 👏🫶🏽

[@pratapupadhya.6476]

❤❤

[@AspieMemoires]

Interesting when homelessness forces vita contemplativa, if you stay away from drugs, alcohol, and crime anyways. Cause that’s what happened to me. No wonder I’ve been feeling like, “Where y’all goin? Sit a while.”

[@charlesbetz9475]

We're desperately trying to fill our existential void with the necessarily finite and worldly without understanding that that void is infinite and only the transcendent and absolute can complete us

[@ehabibrahim2111]

God is the best choice ever to fill that infinite void, i said this and i am not religious person , i am agnostic , nothing in this life can transcended us from existential crisis like religion , some people said art can do the same or science , i don't know ...maybe.

[@Lightning_Toad]

I don't really know what you mean by "the transcendent and absolute," but I can't say I'm convinced anything will truly "complete" us until we're dead. But that doesn't mean we can't find peace and belonging before that. We'll be incomplete in the meantime, yeah, but maybe we can endure that while we savor other parts of life

[@charlesbetz9475]

@Lightning_Toad an ideal or belief that goes beyond the material world our senses can perceive

[@charlesbetz9475]

@@ehabibrahim2111 I agree with God being the best choice. But if it's a matter of pragmatism, probably whatever religion is culturally relevant to you that you can most easily identify with. Especially if you're coming from being an atheist or nihilist.

[@freewilldita1]

Awesome💗❤💗remember

[@no_one514]

12:57am 11-16-24 SAT

[@ManOfMonism]

Not me. I'm Zen baby. I'm Zen.

[@paolocruz8392]

Wouldn't the boulder become smaller and smaller much like how sand is formed on seashores

[@mueller7652]

Please get in touch with the authors of the book: A philosophical case for Bitcoin. At least give the book a try. Your works and the deeper meaning behind Bitcoin the ecosystem are a great match.

[@andyjohnson5710]

I believe "Graham Hancocks" recent decree resonated profoundly with myself, he said: "As a civilisation we are technologically astute however, conscientiously infantile".

[@akosimiguel7273]

💎

[@64nizar]

Sounds like you never met a civil servant.

[@ravish05]

Instead of allowing the thoughts to linger think about who exactly is the thinker and find peace.

[@enochsadventures]

cool story but this doesn't make eggs cheaper

[@loope-w5h]

❤

[@testdep]

So someone complains about having too much events in their life and not having enough time to properly process them? Nice... 1st world problems at its finest. PS. Love the channel thou, greatly enjoy the content!

[@TheLostBoy01]

religion gives another reason to feel "diferent" from the other guy. did i also mention reason to go to war?

[@Dowinohue]

Religion not only provides a reason to feel “different”, but also provides an “in-group” to feel part of, reinforcing that everyone else is “different”

[@SisebutoSirois]

Thanks for sharing such valuable information! A bit off-topic, but I wanted to ask: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?

[@PropagandasaurusRex]

You're born alone and you'll die alone. What happens in between in the presence of other people is just a pointless wasting of time.

[@CollectionOfTheTimeless]

We are born completely reliant on our mothers. And once a person embodies genuine well-being (which is rare), one is naturally inclined to help others because one has seen the futility of anything else that there is, so therefore helping others is the most sensical thing to do.

[@akashbart2765]

This sounds too similar to meditation.

[@allardvanderstarre]

i am just bored, the untermensch, a subhuman, i just hate everybody, all humans

[@EspHack]

yea they called it feudalism, but sure, lets throw a million more words at the thing

[@IndustrialBonecraft]

We should not slow down. We should speed up. Intesify thanatropic acceleration.

[@SalmonBoa420]

Second

[@WayneBarton-u2n]

Modern life for ME is more FULFILLING than emptier and it's like Mc Donald's because I'm L❤VIN it to the max.

[@joranvandersluis]

Mc Donald's is demonic.

[@shattered1060]

First

[@brandonorr4143]

Tortuous doesn’t mean “of torture.”

[@buzzcodez]

get to the point bro

[@sumedhhhh]

You just proved the point!!

[@ChronoTriggers]

Jesus will save you.

[@futuristica1710]

Being religious doesn’t make everything perfect.

[@meshdotnet]

nah guys, how can you say life is emptier than ever. it’s fucking insanely juicy 😭

[@elysianfields1671]

Because people are finally understanding life is meaningless and pointless, and they don’t know how to deal with that amount of freedom.

[@Dowinohue]

Good take… not meaningless imo, I think meaning is subjective to the perspective… but agree that there isn’t some Inherent default meaning. It just is.

[@BBlooger]

Life just is, but you fill it with meaning.