You’re Too Self-Aware to Be Happy | The Psychology of Deep Thinkers
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In this video, we explore the uncanny—often exhausting—nature of having a body and being perceived. What does it mean to know we are in some physical casing, always an object in the world being perceived and judged? How does this change who we are inside? Are we sometimes nothing more than what we think others think of us?
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@PursuitofWonder
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
If this video resonated with you, I think you’ll also really enjoy my new book. It's titled "The Terrible Paradox of Self-Awareness," and it's a sort of philosophical thought map that guides you through self-awareness in order to arrive at acceptance, wonder, and meaning.
It’s out now: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FCDCCNJR?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=andrewsmcmeelpublishing-20
Other retailers: https://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/book/the-terrible-paradox-of-self-awareness/
@Neurostoic-Us
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Wow, that's deep and thought-provoking.
@RM-lv9ng
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
The fact you are self aware is only an issue if you let it. There can be joy in just being. Your physical representation is not your self. Just accept that fact.
@STHGrows
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Much love to all
@kyadax
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
realized this the 3rd time I was taking shrooms when I was like 20 😭😭
@shripperquats5872
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Title itself is misleading; happiness is found in acceptance. once you accept your overthinking as it is, you can make peace and actually make progress. but as long as you chase it around like it's some gift or curse, you'll be lost.
@muneebkhan7465
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Many who were caught up in this mess really found solace in religion and spirituality!
For them ,Existential crisis was the vacuum and Spirituality really filled that Vaccum!
Buddha, Swami VivekAnand, Imam Gazali( Al Gazel) are some big examples
@rna1561
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
I always wished I was someone else
@TheCeec
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
the only way to you get the real happyness in through god and jesus, because them is the real truth and life, trust me bro follow jesus and god and your life will be changed
@GingerDan2377
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
This video is a masterpiece. I thought that about several other videos from Pursuit of Wonder in the past year. Thank goodness for you guys!
@alphawolfzeon958
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
To exist and understand is suffering.
@ninetailorochimaru
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
I'll admit this video was not what I was expecting. I'm self aware in the sense that I psycho analyze WHY I do the things I do or WHY I feel a certain way.
For me, I feel a disconnect from humanity and THAT'S my hell. I can't feel positivity from from others, only negativity. I can experience positivity around others, and empathize, etc. But if they say the love me, I don't feel it. Or I don't feel gratitude. And it's crushing.
I know who I am. I live the way I am. But I want to be better. And I keep over thinking trying to figure out how.
Your video was stellar for how people base their perception of self off of others by using them as a mirror, though. So thanks for making the content.
Stay Awes9me
@Velvetec
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
6:24 'Arguably, the root of this dependency and subsequent disquiet, in many ways, is the same one that causes the strange disorienting experience of staring at ourselves closely in a mirror or becoming hyper-aware of our body.'
I don't understand this. The same root reason you are disoriented and have an existential awakening in front of a mirror is the same root reason you are thinking about other humans' perceptions about you? How? What is the root reason?
———
[written on 26th March 2026, 1:04am, Thursday]
@Simontolivar
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
No pleasing some people is there ?
@pillheadnecky
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
I kind of love it, the separation of our body from intent, being able to just tell my body to “walk” and have it auto pilot itself without me thinking about every footfall.
It’s something we take for granted but that distinction between kind and body is like magic. I don’t personally feel “trapped” inside a body, i kind of feel like the sole user of my own private magical host that diligently carries me without much effort or planning.
I feel like a disembodied mind would very quickly lose any kind of unique individuality, becoming silent observer of the universe, untethered and boundless. Maybe that’s our eventually fate, but for the time being I’m grateful for this flawed flesh golum that stares back at me in the mirror
@DepthofSelf1
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
That moment when you suddenly realize you’re inside a body is such a weird but real experience. Amazing video
@StoicHabitLab
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Wow, this topic is really thought-provoking!
@FlyingAce1016
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Sounds like how narcissists brains work tbh 😂
@KAREEM-uw2ml
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
❤❤❤
@KAREEM-uw2ml
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
❤❤❤
@Lindsay.kern0
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Ignorance truly is bliss. Please God let me come back as a hamster 🙏
@LifeArchitecture-212
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Put yourself in first place is okay?
@ЭрболСанташбеков
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Deep thinks is really good
@krus773
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
and I don't mind
@stevenpiehl6199
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
I have to gauge myself awareness so that I can cope in this irrational world
@TheLiminalDoor
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
There is a dark phase every super self aware person goes through that will break them. This is a good thing we overlook. The freedom is on the other side of that.
@florider74
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Do some mushrooms, and all these thoughts will come to the forefront.😊
@johnrula
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
You haven’t lived with “ self awareness until you look in a mirror on mushrooms” stayed in the washroom for over half an hour , life changing….peace
@Satoriis
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Too much self-observation can paralyze.
@mark-riva
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Face it, according to this channel, everything is pretty fucked and anyone who isn’t a robot had better brace themselves for endless misery.
@HisDailyJoy
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
This video truly hit home! It's so insightful to consider how much our self-perception is shaped by how we believe others see us. The idea of "hell is other people" transformed into "hell is how much we depend on others seeing us a certain way" is a powerful shift in perspective. It really makes you think about letting go of those expectations. Thanks for sharing this thought-provoking content!
@vanhung7975
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
Your videos always give me so much to think about. This exploration of self-awareness and the 'looking glass self' was incredibly profound. I love how you blend philosophy with such beautiful visuals, it makes these complex ideas so much easier to digest. Thank you for another masterpiece that truly resonates with my soul!🙏
@Mockturtlesoup1
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
I used to say that one of my (many)problems was that, "I was self-conscious but not self-aware."
@abubakardalhatu4741
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
This video resonated a lot with me. I sometimes find myself thinking of how I am perceived, how I wish to perceived, but ultimately I am still searching for my true self. I look at people that are unapologetically theirselves in awe, admiration and envy. I wish to be my true self and free of the confines i have allowed society to place me in, but then I think to myself, are these that I aspire to be like really true to their nature, or are they also trapped in the confines of society, forced to play their role.
@RaunakRai99
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
This is exactly what buddha said 2500 years ago. He called it anatta / anaatma( no self)
@maciejjastrzebski5250
June 23, 2026 at 5:12 am
It's easy to deprecate self awareness and our assessment of the reality's (mis)alignement with our ideal picture of it when one's single and having the kind of couldn't-care-less attitude towards the remainder of their life.
At some point you realise that the only valuable thing you're left with in this world is to carve out a reality that best suits yourself. Think of it as directing a movie that you will watch just once – it'd better be damn good, otherwise it's all been just a waste.