How to Navigate the Weirdness

This two-part talk, How to Navigate the Weirdness by Erik Davis, gave me such great comfort and clarity on how to ground myself in the complexities of our current societal consciousness. The intention behind these talks is to honestly assess the present moment and share navigational tools for sanity, sense-making, and creative engagement. Davis gives historical context and talks about the transformative cultural shifts that have led us to this point, while also addressing the psychological impacts of media saturation, among other things. His strategies emphasize flexibility, mindfulness, and critical thinking. Here is part one and part two, and here is some of his advice (paraphrased):

• Ground yourself in physical sensations and direct experiences to counterbalance the effects of media saturation and overwhelming information.

• Use foxhole or gallows humor as a tool for resilience—find connection and levity even in difficult situations.

• Embrace an "emotional remix," allowing opposite emotions like grief and joy to coexist, fostering a flexible emotional state.

• Practice situational pluralism by recognizing that multiple valid frameworks exist for interpreting reality.

• Deepen your capacity to embrace uncertainty, mystery, and doubt without searching for fact or reason—not everything fits into a fixed narrative.

—CD