OVERVIEW

Enhance Your Satisfaction… With a Comfortable and Interesting Life

By Improving Your Health, Wealth & Wisdom

Health

Manage weight, exercise, sleep, sun, medical exams, safety, relaxation
Eat healthy balanced diet
Manage your neurotransmitter balance preferably without drugs

Wealth

Work … it’s your best investment
Plan and manage your cashflow and net worth
Have an abundance, not a scarcity, mindset

Wisdom

All things appear to be quanta of energy fields that extend throughout the universe
Your selfish Satisfaction best is enhanced by freely helping others enhance their Satisfaction
Insist on hard deep evidence to form your opinions … don’t fool yourself

Just Start … Now

What is Existence?

The first question is: why is there something instead of nothing? (and what is “nothing” anyway?)

The second question is: since there is something, why this something instead of something else?

Beyond these questions, the following are based on existing understanding:

Existence is excitations of quantum fields (aka “elementary particles”) and their interactions

Human perception of Existence = Nature + Culture + Satisfaction

Nature is not created by humans. Culture is created by humans.

Satisfaction is the combination of how comfortable and interesting is an individual’s life

A comfortable and interesting life is a result of sufficient Health, Wealth and Wisdom

Things we don’t yet know

What existed before our universe began
The composition and nature of quantum fields
How life on Earth scientifically began
What is inside of a black hole

“Existence” as the term is used in this document includes all phenomena that are the result of the interaction of fundamental elementary particles … which are theorized to be excitations (disruptions) in the various quantum fields … fields that extend throughout the universe. These quantum fields can be described with abstractions, but the exact nature (composition, etc.) of the quantum fields is not known at present.

These quantum fields and their excitations are subatomic entities with no known substructure, i.e. not composed of anything smaller. Quantum fields can be visualized in the video at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmG2ah5Df4g

These particles combine to form larger compositions of matter and energy that in part generate the perception of Existence as objects, sensations and concepts by human, animal, plant, natural abiotic, and machine entities.

An entity perceives other entities by the movement of related excitations (example: photons reflected from an object to the visual sensory receptors, nerves and brain processing – all themselves comprised of elementary particles - of a human or animal).

One way to describe the human “mind” is the combination of brain function plus sensory and other inputs to and outputs from the brain via nerves and other means plus the physical phenomena generating the inputs and influenced by the outputs. So, the “mind” and “body” are the same thing, not separate.

Human perception of Existence is practically instantaneous. A reasonable definition of “instantaneous” is the speed of light or alternatively 13 milliseconds which appears to be the fastest humans can perceive something that they see. Existence is only what is present and occurring at this specific moment along with the human and other animals’ (incomplete) memories - and other evidence of - previous occurrences … as well as speculation about future presences and occurrences.

While Existence apparently is a series of instantaneous moments processing quantum field excitations, a human’s perception of Existence encompasses past memories, anticipations of future occurrences and processed information as physical objects and sensations plus mental knowledge and emotions. This is a human’s “reality” … perceived objects, sensations, knowledge, emotions.

An overview, by Arvin Ash, of the 13.8 billion year existence of the Universe based on the current consensus of scientists is provided at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUnYkixy3ug

Some attribute Existence to supernatural design (a god or gods) that cannot be comprehended fully by humans. In a non-supernatural context, several propositions have been offered.

Existence does not appear to have a known causal explanation (as any cause must itself have a cause) or a contingent explanation as the factors giving the contingency must pre-exist. If there is an answer it must be something that exists necessarily (i.e., something that just exists, rather than is caused).

Existence is linked with “time” (i.e., when did this existence begin); time is, at least in part, an artificial human construct. It has been experimentally proven that time is not a constant … time is relative, time dilates. Time is one aspect of describing changes in Existence.

Some argue that the only two options which can explain Existence is that things either always existed or spontaneously emerged. In a quantum vacuum state, virtual particles and spacetime bubbles apparently come into existence spontaneously. In either scenario, Existence is a fact for which there is not a cause.

Others say that it is attempting to answer a question that is outside a space-time setting, from within a space-time setting. It is akin to asking "what is north of the North Pole?" Even if "nothing" is impossible, however, asking why that is the case is a question that will continue to be considered.

The universe is 'fine-tuned' for this specific Existence we experience. The laws of physics have to be 'just so' for anything known (including humans) to exist.

Multiple existing physics parameters, however, could be varied simultaneously by orders of magnitude and still produce this same universe. In addition, a different set of parameters could produce a universe with different characteristics … including perhaps different types of life forms.

Available evidence indicates that humans are biological entities composed of quantum field excitations. These excitations are assembled into the information sensing, activating, processing and storage capabilities of the human body.

At this time, no other scientific evidence (observable, quantifiable, analyzable in controlled experiments) is available supporting “spiritual” or other aspects of human existence. Those additional characteristics are accepted by those who believe in them based on something other than verifiable evidence (e.g., “faith”).

Following are related ideas that have been attributed to Albert Einstein:

There only is energy … “matter” simply is energy.

Everything in the universe is connected through this energy.

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it only can be changed.

A human’s physical self-awareness and experience is an optical illusion.

Time does not exist … it is an invention of humans.

We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has to reveal.

Most significant insights come subconsciously … after conscious rational thought.

A satisfied person wants nothing … money, decorations, titles, distinctions, praise, credit.

A happy person is too satisfied with the present to dwell too much on the future.

Human perception of Existence consists of Nature plus Culture. Nature includes things that exist without being created by humans. Culture includes those things that humans create.

Nature includes the built-in operating system for autonomic functions (breathing, heartbeat, photosynthesis, pollination, etc.) with which living things are born. Culture provides additional programming for learned behavior and exists to supplement and enhance Nature.

Nature

Universe

14 billion years old … 93 billion lightyears across (what preceded this Universe is not known)
10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 planets … more than grains of sand on Earth
Quantum field excitations comprise everything; the fields extend throughout the universe

Earth

Formed from the Sun 4.5 billion years ago … initially molten
Earliest evidence of life 3.5 billion years ago (how life scientifically started is not known)

Humans

Originated in Africa 200,000 years ago (.001% of universe’s age); 110 billion total have lived
Developed brains capable of abstraction, complexity, language, dexterity
Any individual human is at least 99.4% genetically identical to any other human
Consciousness (self-awareness) results from receptor and neuron processed information
Pursue Satisfaction by seeking to make personal existence more comfortable and interesting

Culture

Intention is to enhance Satisfaction through technology and art which may be evolving toward:

Purposes

More social interaction
More self-directed interests
Manage the build and use of autonomous Platforms (e.g., robots)

Processes

Decentralized and distributed (fewer utilities, institutions, brick & mortar)
Customized, on-demand, anticipatory, usage based (fewer assets owned by end consumers?)
Automated manual and administrative labor

Platforms

Autonomous networked devices
Additive custom manufacturing (in factories and local on-site)
Real-time precise immersive information and services

A framework for describing and managing the Existence of an individual or a group includes:

Plan – top level summary statement of overall intentions and key actions

Purposes – goals

Principles – guidelines for conduct

Position – description of situation

Providers – other sources of goods and services offered

Possibilities – optional opportunities and reasonable courses of action

Prospects – people, groups to associate with, serve, etc.

Places – where to operate

Products – services and goods offered

Promotion – communicating the availability and value of the offering

Processes – actions needed to achieve Purposes

Platforms – hardware, software, biological and other entities that support Processes

Partners – work with to achieve Purposes

Performance – planned and actual key metrics that measure achievement of Purposes

Portfolio – optimized prioritized actions (Programs and Projects) for achieving Purposes

Humans tend to live their lives in five somewhat distinct phases.

These phases include (age ranges are approximate):

0-20 years: Personal formation and education
20-40 years: Career and family establishment
40-60 years: Personal, career and family enhancement
60-80 years: Career retirement, support of extended family, volunteerism, recreation
80+ years: Socialization; living assistance as needed

Key Principles that enhance Satisfaction are:

Mutual Trust … and Help Others Enhance Their Satisfaction

1. Be Balanced 2. Acknowledge uncontrollables 3. Plan 4. Act

Available evidence indicates that …

All things (including humans) are collections of quantum fields excitations … fields that extend throughout the universe … the exact physical nature of the fields is not understood
All humans are at least 99.4% genetically identical
Human physical differences are superficial … and cultural differences are artificial
Some, nevertheless, use these differences as significant basis for their points of view
Consciousness is result of physical processes … the brain plus its inputs and outputs
Human Satisfaction = Comfortable + Interesting existence
You enhance your comfort and interests (long term Satisfaction) by improving your health, wealth and wisdom
Private free market enterprise and charity via individual self-determination best enhances the health, wealth and wisdom of a society as a whole
Selfish Satisfaction best is enhanced by helping others enhance their Satisfaction … this is a principle on which good people of all beliefs can agree
Mutual trust (in every way and every relationship) is essential for maximum Satisfaction
Successful long term relationships are based on expressing appreciation, not criticism
Generally, women want: love (love is not control … and to be loved, you must be loveable), fun, security, freedom, comfort, interesting life, opportunity, a partner they respect

Men want respect (respect is not fear … and to be respected, you must be respectable), security, freedom, comfort, interesting life, opportunity, a partner who is loveable

To become financially wealthy, continuously save and wisely invest
Long term, USA total stock market significantly outperformed bonds, gold and real estate
Total local+state+federal spending less than 25% of GDP maximizes benefits for a nation
Life is not always “fair”, but it can be Satisfying by helping other enhance their Satisfaction
Death is inevitable and usually peaceful … accept it and meanwhile live a Satisfying life

In the future, human existence may include

Universal all-purpose robots; autonomous personal vehicles
Personal energy shield and cloaking fields
Immersive virtual reality & all-senses virtual teleportation
Global “mind”: integrated synthesized information from web “mining” + crowd sourcing
Standardized personal information applications to streamline provision of that data
Nano and cell-level hygiene and disease prevention and treatment
Personal energy from sun and nutrients extracted from water and air
Solutions for existential threats: large asteroids; pandemics; mass destruction weapons
Less end-user ownership (more pay per use) of shelter, transportation, other assets.
Blended ethnicity and language

How to Exist

Humans are a result of the biological processes and the responses of those processes to their surrounding environment. Given that this is all that (and as much as) humans are, the question is: how should a person live?

Humans are “selfish” in their biological emotions, likely due (at least in part) to the need for selfishness in order to survive. Long-term individual personal Satisfaction is the selfish main goal of most humans.

How best is long-term personal Satisfaction achieved? The experience of history demonstrates that individual selfish long-term personal Satisfaction best is maintained by a person freely helping (i.e., not being mandated) to enhance the Satisfaction of others as they, not the helping individual, define their own Satisfaction. Studies have demonstrated that those who are generous earn more on average than those who are not.

Thus, selfish Satisfaction is self-limiting. An individual’s selfish Satisfaction best is served by not violating the Satisfaction of others.

An advantage of this practice is that individuals with differing points-of-view and beliefs can co-exist to the benefit of all. Some personal political and religious ideologies, however, do not advocate for the extent of this personal liberty and so inhibit co-existence.

To the extent that an individual does not adhere to this practice, his and others’ Satisfaction levels likely are reduced. Individuals and their community as a whole do not maintain the highest possible Satisfaction.

A person helps others, not only because it makes others feel good, but because it makes the helpful person feel good … and more Satisfied. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

Your personal existence determines your level of long-term Satisfaction (Satisfaction is not “Happiness” which is short-term and transient). Your Satisfaction level is a result of how comfortable plus interesting is your existence.

Actions that help you achieve long term Satisfaction and moments of Happiness.

1. Social Connections

2. Helping Others

3. Gratitude

4. Savoring

5. Exercise & Reflection

Following are examples of actions that can enhance the Satisfaction of others … and in turn enhance your own Satisfaction:

Be kind and helpful to all … starting with your family and friends
Be friendly and warm to those with whom you come in contact
Show gratitude to those who provide services for you or that otherwise help you
If you can, tip generously … and give a few dollars to those who do work for you (e.g., delivery drivers, etc.)
Donate your time and money to causes that help others

Don’t expect reciprocal kindness or help … just appreciate it when you receive it

Life is made more Satisfying (more comfortable and interesting) by improving Health, Wealth and Wisdom. You choose the “meaning” of and the “purposes” for your life.

Humans pursue Purposes to enhance Satisfaction. The elements of a comfortable, interesting existence are included in the Purposes listed below. Platforms support Processes realizing Purposes.

Research indicates that common ingredients of Satisfaction are:

being guided by meaning and purpose,
connecting with others, and
a sense of control and autonomy over one’s life (including understanding what can be controlled and acted on … and what cannot be controlled to let it go).

Each person faces challenges and opportunities to make theirs and others’ lives more comfortable and interesting.

Understand what you can control … and what should be acknowledged as not in your control (and prepared for but worried about as little as possible).

Approach each of these challenges and opportunities with:

Balance + Acknowledge + Plan + Action (BAPA)

1. Balance: homeostasis, relaxed, positive, calm, breathe, smile, posture, eye contact, in moment

2. Acknowledge: things you cannot control … death, people, nature, other things

3. Plan: yours and others’ Health, Wealth & Wisdom

4. Act: on your plans … boldly, deliberately, prudently, with mutual trust

Consider that anticipation of a coming negative event can be more negative than the event itself

Palliative care has provided insights into perspectives of the dying – and guidance about on how to live with Happiness and Satisfaction.

A life true to oneself, not the life others expected of one
Had not worked so hard
Courage to express feelings
Stayed in touch with friends
Real life connection is the essence of wellbeing

Momentary Happiness is a choice – it does not come from being lucky. It is not a denial of the hard times.

You can choose Happiness in many ways. And always find things to be grateful for, regardless of your circumstances.

https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/regrets-of-the-dying-bronnie-ware-how-to-be-happy-friendships-love-careers-deathbed-regrets/305202

Many people experience the kind of sadness that feels mundane and incremental - the slow accumulation of ordinary losses. Melancholy that takes hold when a person realizes that the hallmarks of happiness (marriage, children, a job, etc.) are not a guarantee against despair.

Not the major devastations but the strange little ache that feels like a precondition to being human. Nothing can fully alleviate that ambient sadness.

Part of it is surely existential - our lives are temporary and inscrutable; death is compulsory. In addition, we are always losing, or leaving, or being left, in ways both minor and vast.

This has been described as feeling unknowable and estranged, disillusioned by the un-magnificent lives of adults. It is a soft, amorphous grief. We suffer more than we let on.

Something middle-aged men and teen-age girls have in common is the ongoing act of understanding our existence.

Those who believe in a spiritual existence sometimes can find solace in that.

Meanwhile, it may help to let go of the past and be with each other where we are now. Do it without trying too hard. Accept the fragility of life; enjoy the humanity of an experience.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/05/08/the-sad-dads-of-the-national?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us

Your 3 Main Fears

A worthwhile activity may be to identify your three main fears. Then think about what you can and should do in response to those fears.

For example, one person identified his three main fears as:

1. Losing his wife

2. Poor health

3. Begin financially destitute

He determined his responses (that he had the ability to personally control) to those fears as:

1. Acknowledging that eventually both he and his wife will die … and meanwhile enjoy living … smile, have fun, humor … help others

2. Things he cannot control will happen to affect his health (contagious illnesses, genetic diseases, accidents, aging, etc.). He does what he can control to maintain his health (diet, exercise, sleep habits, socialize, relax, work, learn, help others, positive attitude, etc.)

3. Wisely manage his assets, income and spending

Insights from a professional therapist about how best to exist…

You are what you do

Feelings follow behavior

Laughter is a best therapy for anxiety, depression and illness

Be bold

Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good

Life’s two most important questions are “Why?” and “Why Not?”

Most of all, don’t lie to yourself

From “Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart” by Dr. Gordon Livingston

Women and men are somewhat different … but each can do what they are able.

Generally, women need love (freedom, support, kindness, presence, fun … not control).

Men need respect (admiration, support, kindness … not fear).

To be loved, be loveable … to be respected, be respectable.

If you are not receiving love … or respect … that you deserve … then move on.

Typically, a woman should pick the man she wants. If he is not interested, move on.

In his Letters to a Young Poet, Rainer Maria Rilke describes the connection between freedom and love. “The point of marriage is not to… tear down all boundaries; on the contrary, a good marriage is one in which each partner appoints the other to be the guardian of his solitude … A merging of two people is an impossibility, and where it seems to exist, it is a hemming-in, a mutual consent that robs one party or both parties of their fullest freedom and development.”

By giving up the freedom to explore, one is limited to a life of stagnation and resentment and is stifled by his or her own sense of safety.

Communication is essential to human existence. Several principles and practices support the most effective communication.

Make it about the listeners

Establish mutual trust

Friendliness

Confidence

Volume and tone

Active listening

Empathy

Respect

Responsiveness

Eye contact

Posture

Use an open hand for gesturing … don’t point your finger

Good communication helps educate your listener and leads them to an informed conclusion. Remember that for any claim you make, the listener probably is thinking: “prove it”.

1. Have Something Good to Say

2. Say it Well

3. Say It Often

Have Something Good to Say … something that is of interest to your listener

Say it Well … using the following framework

Interrupt (with something familiar and/or problematic. Clever if appropriate, but clever is not easy to do well and is not essential)
Engage (with the promise of info to follow that is valuable to the listener)
Educate (deliver the information that truly is valuable to the listener … including real evidence to support your claims)
Offer (a low risk - for the listener - next step in the process)

Ensure the message responds to the key interest (aka “hot buttons”) of the listener.

You have about one second to Interrupt and then another second to Engage a listener. If you deliver in a useful way valuable information promised in the Engage claim, a listener likely will spend as much time as needed to absorb the Educate and Offer elements of your message.

The human brain craves meaning before details. Paint the big picture that is clear, concise, and engaging. The “main thing” should cater to the needs of your audience.

Keep it short. Make it easy to remember.

Say It Often … the average person typically must hear or see a message 8 to 15 times before they become fully aware of it.

Typically, only a small percentage are ready to accept and act on your information when they do become aware … so, continue communicating your message and valuable information until they are ready. Frequently communicate to listeners the information that is valuable to them.

For humans, receiving too much information interferes with their ability to process it. Stick to the strongest points of your message; delivery of the message is as important as its content.

Enhance Your Satisfaction

Make Your Life More Comfortable & Interesting

By Always Improving Your Health, Wealth & Wisdom

Health

Manage weight, diet, exercise, sleep, hygiene, moderate sun exposure, safety, medical exams

Socialize frequently … with acquaintances and with strangers

Manage neurotransmitter balance … preferably with minimal or no medications

Stay calm and relaxed
Maintain a healthy weight and other key metrics (i.e., blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.)
Eat a balanced protein, fruit and vegetables; minimize processed foods, refined sugar, flour
Eat daily the number of portions of food volume that maintains your desired weight
Exercise several times per week … including weight bearing activities
Sleep 7 to 8 hours each night; go to bed and awake same times each day
Have 15 minutes of sun each day for illness prevention, recovery and other health benefits
Relax 5 to 10 minutes each day by concentrating only on deep breathing (in nose, out mouth)
Clean teeth and use mouthwash (to kill bone destroying bacteria) each day
Medical exams: general, dental, eye, others as needed
Safety: maintain and use intrusion, fire and gas alarms, exits, cameras, CPR, gun (with training)
Balance neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, etc. without drugs if possible
In general, work at your job less than 50 hours per week
Socialize with people who also are improving their Health, Wealth and Wisdom

Wealth

Work … it usually is your best investment

Continually plan and manage your cashflow and net worth

Have an abundance … not a scarcity … mindset

Do something you love, are good at, get paid for and is needed by people
Plan and manage your cashflow and increase of your net worth (Assets, Income, Spending)
Plan for all 5 phases of life and adjust plans continually as circumstances require
Hold total stock market index funds over decades (if market fails, then bigger problems exist)
Maximize possible contribution in any employer matched retirement investment accounts
Pursue riskier investment only with money that you can afford to lose (a loss often will occur)

Wisdom

Mutual trust (in every way) is the most essential condition to maximize Satisfaction

Selfish Satisfaction best is served by freely helping others enhance their Satisfaction

Seek knowledge and insist on real verified evidence to form your own individual opinions

Satisfaction = Comfort + Interests … target at least level 8 on a scale of 10
Self-rated personal Satisfaction averages about 8 out of 10 (for people in the USA)
“Happiness” often is misinterpreted as Satisfaction … the two are different.
Personal Satisfaction increases as individual self-determination increases.
1. Balanced 2. Acknowledge non-controllables 3. Plan 4. Act
Believe that things will work out, while accepting that getting there might not be easy
Think about the larger meaning or purpose that your actions serve
Focus on internal, not external, rewards (feel good about what you, not others, think of you)
Mutual trust (can you trust me, can I trust you in every way) maximizes mutual Satisfaction
Trust: help others enhance their Satisfaction, improve, be competent, keep promises
Each person defines his or her own self-interests … self-interests are self-limiting
Open and honest communication; keep honest communication flowing
Your time and energy are the most valuable. Manage them well.
The fastest way to get something done is to eliminate it entirely
Energy, not time, is the basis for productivity; habits determine energy levels
Misaligned habits create a cycle of feeling worse; good habits make one feel energized
Be kind and generous with your time and other resources
Don’t lie, cheat, steal … or hurt people
People will care about you after they know you (truly) care about them
In a relationship, not being negative is much more important than being positive
Establish your family’s physical and financial security first … then, do other things
Long-term partnerships/marriages have a u-shaped Satisfaction curve … don’t give up easily
Life is not fair … you make your “luck” by being prepared for unexpected opportunities
Economic success is dependent mainly on the hard work of you and your partner, not on IQ
Children need love, time, guidance, rules, freedom, and consequences for actions
There is no “racism”, since we all are members of the human race; humans are 99.5% identical
Physical differences are superficial …Cultural differences artificial … but important to many
Defend liberty and justice for every individual.
Prejudice exists in about the same proportion (about 1 in 5) in every group. Oppose bigotry.
Have a plan with goals … then focus on the process to achieve your goals
The things you own often end up “owning” your time and energy
No “inalienable” rights exist … only those rights you are willing to claim and fight to retain
Nothing does more for your health, wealth and wisdom than private free market enterprise
Insist on hard deep confirming evidence … not feelings … before forming your opinions
As you receive increasing quantities of information, have the discipline to use it effectively
Accept death … the very last moments of life apparently are pleasant in most if not all cases

Summary: How to Exist

Purpose (the reason for Existence)

Enhance long term Satisfaction = comfortable + interesting life

by improving Health, Wealth & Wisdom based on these Principles, Policies & Programs

Principles (truths or propositions)

All humans are 99.4% identical (physical differences are superficial, cultural differences are artificial)

Your selfish Satisfaction BEST is enhanced by helping others enhance their Satisfaction

Research confirms society benefits most when total government spending is less than 25% of GDP

Policies (intent)

“BAPA”: Balance+Acknowledge uncontrollables (death, nature, people, other things)+Plan+Act

Enhance personal and community Satisfaction

Limit total government spending to no more than 25% of GDP

Programs (actions)

Health: maintain good mindset, diet, exercise, sleep, medical, social, sun exposure

Wealth: manage positive cashflow (income less spend) … grow net worth

Wisdom: pursue evidence-based inquiries, assessments, conclusions

Enhance Your Satisfaction Best by Helping Others Enhance Theirs

Ask yourself …

Is your life comfortable and interesting … your Satisfaction level 8 or higher?

Are you enhancing the Satisfaction of others (thus, best enhancing your selfish Satisfaction)?

What actions will you take make your life more comfortable, interesting, satisfying?

“There is but one solution to the intricate riddle of life; to improve ourselves, and contribute to the happiness of others.”

poet Mary Shelley