Seven Tips for Wisely Enjoying Spirituality Without Being Deceived
Dissecting Spiritual Marketing [Final Installment]
It seems that stress levels have decreased worldwide, and the world's emotional temperature has risen just a little. According to the latest GALLUP (*1) survey, for the first time in a decade, "negative emotions" have slightly declined, and positive emotions have returned to pre-COVID levels.
Nevertheless, statistics show that about 4% of the total population, or over 300 million people, suffer from anxiety disorders, and the incidence rate jumped by 25% in the first year of the pandemic.
—Moods are on a recovery trend, but hearts are still wavering.
That is the horizon of 2025.
In an era holding such fluctuations, I have examined from nine angles where the "convenient cane" of spirituality is useful and where it causes one to stumble. Today, for the final installment, as I fold up the map of our journey, I will leave behind as a story the seven compasses I acquired while writing this series.
The first compass is 〈Narrativization〉.
Humans cannot endure a void of meaning—I learned that this is a specification of the brain. That is precisely why tools that provide a script for "why I am anxious now," whether through star reading or prediction markets, become attractive. They are convenient, but caution is required so as not to surrender the role of screenwriter entirely.
The second is 〈Visualization〉.
The reason we feel at ease when measuring heart rate variability with wearables is because our own changes are temporarily fixed. However, numbers often fluctuate due to errors. Whether to use a sensor as a cane or as handcuffs—it is the user's gaze that chooses.
The third is 〈Community〉.
Whether in cryptocurrency forums or breathing technique retreats, anxiety is halved when you have companions. But the moment you jump to the conclusion that "it must be true because my companions believe it," the collective frenzy heads straight for a cliff. Hold hands, but check your footing.
The fourth is 〈Immediate Reward〉.
The design of releasing dopamine with a single click attracts people. Push notifications from fortune-telling apps, NFT amulets, reservation buttons for lunar funerals—the faster they are, the sweeter they seem. If you are drawn to the sweetness, take a deep breath. The length of the waiting time can sometimes act as a safety device.
The fifth is 〈Price Illusion〉.
The bias that the higher the price, the more effective it must be, and the rarer it is, the more valuable it must be—flows backward from the wallet to the heart. Whether it is a vase or a retreat, do not stare blankly at the "number of zeros"; decide only after sleeping on it for a night. That alone will significantly reduce the damage.
The sixth is 〈Distance from Evidence〉.
Science is not omnipotent, but it cannot be ignored. When statistics say the "effect size is small," flashy testimonials always require footnotes. Even if numbers seem cold, in the long run, they are the best insurance.
And the seventh is 〈Margin〉.
Without time to turn off notifications, look up at the sky, and surrender yourself to the noise, any tool will end up as nothing more than an overwrite. Because there is a margin, you can rewrite a new story with your own hands.
Spirituality is something to be used, not something to be swallowed by. There are nights when you need a cane. However, if you notice the light of dawn, you should also have the courage to let go of the cane and toss it into your pocket.
To the readers who accompanied me on this long journey—hoping that these seven compasses will illuminate your direction even a little in the place where anxiety and curiosity intersect, I will conclude this theme here for now.
The world is still wavering today.
Yet, I still believe that we can walk.
*1 GALLUP