DELUSION. QUESTIONING. DISSONANCE. MIDLIFE CRISIS. AWARENESS. RESOLUTION. NIRVANA?

“What’s the best B/W film stock?”

“Is mid-life crisis a real thing?”

Have you heard of Nudge theory?

Ask more than one person and you’ll get more than one answer. Missing from my new-to-film photography haul is Dragon Film No.1, No.2, and No.4 because The Little British Camera Company don’t (yet) ship to the US.

You want to keep a fool going? Change the word. Since Babel, language has been the most unstable trend in all of humanity. A hundred dollar word in one room could get you the salary you want; across town it could lead to violence, like the best scene in 40-Year-Old Virgin-“First of all, you throwin too many big words at me. Watch your mouth.”

Another word game-what languages do you speak? Seriously, how many can you speak? Did you count short code? Colors? Numbers? What else? Body language? Auras? Consider these things on your next job application.

I recently discovered a new old word-“nudge theory”. Another fella called it “field theory”. The cool kids are now calling it “social engineering”. Religious and spiritual folks say “divine order”. Turns out, we’re all saying the same stuff. I think, what it really comes down to is-which side of the -ism you find yourself.

Midlife Crisis is a real enough thing. “Midlife” typically refers to (numerical) age and “crisis” is relative to the degree of discomfort-psychological or otherwise. More helpfully, think of “midlife” in reference to conscious cycle: FIRST SELF - IDENTITY SHIFTING INTERVENTION - SECOND SELF. If you’ve never had a midlife crisis I suggest you hurry and go find one. Right now. Seriously, stop reading. Go.

Ask around. People have different definitions for “midlife crisis”, like - “psychotic break”, “ego death”, “a change of mind”, “AHA moment”, “FOMO”, “existential crisis”, “spiritual awakening”, “sobering up”, etc. Psychosis is an inability to productively manage the crisis.

Not just because I like obnoxious titles, I’m sharing the stage-wise psychological system that worked for me. Cheat code: It’s mostly just word games. It don’t matter much what you call it; what matters is whether it keeps you healthy or not.💡

PSYCHOTIC PERSON: I know. Nudge back. Add writing to your toolbox. Just don’t crash out. Some theorize that nirvana is ahead.😵‍💫🧘🏾‍♂️

HELPING PERSON: Learn the languages. Consider adding the “magic question” to your process. Magical thinking can be therapeutic.🤔🙌🏾

BRITAIN PERSON: I’ve read really nice things about you. I hope to meet you in real life. Til then, can I get you to do me a favor? Please.😬🙏🏾

For a film reference-Bamboozled. Shutter Island. Falling Down. Nightmare Alley. Nappily Ever After. The Truman Show. Bushman. Equilibrium. Trading Places. The Universal Theory. They Live. Sinners.

Binge watching movies in the middle of a crisis is - TherapeuticLiving