Curiosity, Belief, and the Weight of Knowing
Opener
Why do we still feel existential dread, even when we know what to do?
Why does knowledge sometimes feel like a burden rather than a solution?
I think the answer lies in how we, as humans, believe.
We have a tendency to mirror whatever is placed in front of us for long enough. Most of us are far more reflective than we realize. Over time, we begin to resemble what we consistently see, hear, and engage with.
And when I say engage, I don’t just mean observing.
I mean participating.
Because being conversant with something implies more than awareness — it means involvement. We slowly grow into what we interact with, what we repeat, what we live alongside.
So maybe the dread we feel isn’t random.
Maybe it’s formed.
I came across a statement that stopped me in my tracks:
“People become what they do subconsciously, when they are not paying attention to what they consume.”
If that’s true, then existential dread may be less about not knowing what to do —
and more about not being intentional with how we live.
When you don’t actively participate in the formation of your thoughts, your decisions begin to form themselves — shaped by whatever surrounds you most.
In that state, knowledge doesn’t fail because it lacks power.
It fails because it never becomes understanding.
Understanding is chosen.
You decide to engage with what you know.
You decide to ask questions.
You decide to search for meaning instead of settling for familiarity.
And without that decision, even the most useful knowledge becomes heavy.
The Light Switch
Think about something simple — a light switch.
Why do you turn it on?
So there’s light in the room.
Why do you need light?
So you can see the people and things around you.
Why do you need to see them?
So you can feel connected.
So you can engage.
So you can belong.
And why do you need to belong?
Because it’s terrifying to be alone in a cold, indifferent world.
See what just happened?
By choosing to understand something mundane, it suddenly carries depth.
Meaning emerges when curiosity is exercised.
Life becomes richer when you interrogate what you already know.
And I believe this:
Life becomes interesting when you choose to understand it.
So don’t let anything kill your curiosity.
It’s one of the most vital lifelines of humanity.
Belief, Repetition, and Influence
One of the most fascinating things about human beings is our diligence to what we believe.
Whether we were taught the truth or sold a lie, once belief takes root, it becomes incredibly resistant to change. Even when evidence begins to challenge it, we often cling to what feels familiar.
Here’s the unsettling part:
For a species capable of extraordinary intelligence, we are remarkably gullible.
We tend to believe things not because they are true, but because they are communicated with conviction.
If someone speaks with confidence, emotional weight, and consistency, we often accept what they’re saying — even when it lacks substance or evidence.
This led me to what I think is a simple but dangerous formula for influence:
- What is repeated over time gains our attention
- Attention increases interest
- Interest produces influence
We become what we hear — repeatedly.
Because belief is shaped by repetition, it becomes easy to create systems, cultures, and dogmas that quietly trap people in cycles of decay.
Sometimes we don’t fall into these patterns intentionally.
We drift into them — because we weren’t paying attention to what held our attention.
And this is why awareness matters.
Before you begin to practice anything — before you commit to growth, discipline, or mastery — you must first examine what you consume consistently.
Because consumption shapes belief.
And belief determines what you think you’re capable of.
We already see this at work everywhere.
Entire societies place their trust in printed paper — fiat currency — because we collectively agree to believe in it. Its power doesn’t come from substance, but from shared belief reinforced over time.
The same principle applies to authority, ideology, identity, and worth.
So here’s the caution:
Be intentional with what you listen to.
Be selective with what you repeat.
Be careful with what you allow to form your beliefs.
Because eventually, what you believe will shape what you practice.
And what you practice will shape who you become.