On significance

If you don't decide this, the world will for you (and it won't end well)

Today I wanted to talk about significance, or more specifically what this concept means in the current media landscape. The notion of what is significant should be a shared value, and was in the past, but is now oddly elusive. A reflection of our own biases and predilections, yes, but in modern times this now is frequently divorced from any objective reality. One can only do this and live in a world of so called “luxury beliefs” for so long before reality comes knocking. So, what exactly is real significance? And how do we, as curious beings living in a world of infinite information, discern what is worth our attention and what is noise to be ignored?

At its core, significance is a measure of importance. It’s a personal construct, influenced by values, cultural narratives, and situational contexts. Humans have an extraordinary ability to imbue even the most mundane objects or events with profound meaning. A worn-out red book with a cracked spine might evoke nostalgia and deep reflection for one person, while it remains just a dusty old book to another. This capacity to attach significance to various elements of our lives is simultaneously a strength and a weakness.

On one hand, it allows us to create rich, complex tapestries of meaning that provide depth and purpose. It is through this capacity we find beauty in the banal, wisdom in the trivial, and joy in the seemingly inconsequential. A familiar song instantly transports us to a formative time from our past, anchoring us in a specific emotional state. Similarly, small, everyday interactions can provide a sense of connection and belonging, transforming routine moments into significant experiences.

Philosophical exercise from my friend Visa

However, in an age where we are bombarded by an infinite stream of content, the same faculty that allows us to find meaning also easily leads astray. We may become ensnared in a web of significance, fixating on trivial details and losing sight of what truly matters. This is the paradox: in a world overflowing with options, our ability to ascribe meaning can also drown us. We might find ourselves endlessly scrolling through social media, deeply invested in debates over minor issues or obsessed with fleeting trends, all while losing track of our core values and priorities (and losing precious time here on Earth). These are problems our ancestors did not have to deal with, the modern environment is one completely alien to what you evolved for. It’s no wonder people are confused.

The key to navigating this duality is developing a discerning eye for what warrants our attention and energy. It requires a nuanced understanding of when to apply significance and when to let go. This discernment is not about wholesale negating the value of all insignificant things but rather prioritizing and focusing efforts where they can have the most impact. If you don’t know yourself and who you are intimately, have a personal mission, or at the very least core morality (many lack even this, as we continue to see examples of) the internet will cause you to spin your wheels pointlessly, or worse. This isn’t something you can paper over with drugs either: while things like ADHD meds might help your focus in the short term, do you even know why you’re choosing to focus on that thing in the first place? It’s clear many do not.

To cultivate this skill, we must first engage in self-reflection to understand our core values and goals — and not just think about them, know them. What are the projects, people, and causes that actually matter to us personally and to the world? Why? Was it you who decided this or others? If not yourself, was it someone in your community, a parent, religious institution, trusted mentor? Something worse? Where did they get it from? Have you spent time considering what you find significant beyond instant gratification? Do you have a macro sense of purpose? Are you nihilistic because you chose empty vessels for life significance? Were you honest with yourself about all of these questions? Only after clarifying these, and likely far more, can we effectively filter out distractions and concentrate our resources on things that truly matter, that are tethered to reality and have real meaning. If you didn’t know where to start, mediation is probably the simple answer.

Additionally, mindfulness plays a pretty big role, and if you go read your social or even traditional media feeds you’ll note this is almost non-existent. By practicing awareness of our emotional responses and cognitive patterns, we can better recognize when we are being led astray by superficial significance versus when we are engaging with something of genuine importance. Mindfulness helps us to stay grounded and to make deliberate choices about where to invest our time and energy. This doesn’t mean we can’t make memes and have fun, it's just answering the “why” question first.

By sharpening our ability to discern true significance from ephemeral distractions or (worse) propaganda and things designed to harvest our attention, we not only improve our own lives but also contribute meaningfully to the legitimately important narratives of our time (and can nudge the world in a healthier direction). When everyone does this together, things compound better and humanity can enter a new golden age. I personally find work such as curating music greatly helps me apply appropriate significance, especially to abstract concepts. If you can do this well in one area it should translate across domains. But I don’t think it’s something that just happens without practice. Perhaps a life project to continually get better at (and not let unscrupulous external forces decide for you).