Reflection on 'Nausea'

I recently finished reading 'Nausea' by Jean-Paul Sartre. I won't be reviewing the novel in this post. Instead, I had a few afterthoughts and questions following the reading. I asked one of these questions to ChatGPT and received an interesting answer, which I will be sharing with you via this post.

Question: How can we understand existentialism in this age of technology, where we do not have much time to think about other things, as we are engrossed in our day-to-day life? For example, we are playing games, watching movies, and scrolling through reels all day, so we don't have as much extra time as the protagonist of this novel has. Do you think that we are becoming less existential now? What are your takes on this?

For example, the protagonist of this novel has so much free time that he could think about the existence of other things, like that of a 'root' (book reference) and other things. But what if the protagonist had a mobile phone or access to the internet, or he could play online games? What would have happened then?

Because you see that sometimes I also feel the same way the protagonist of this novel was feeling, but at other times, when I am with my friends—let's say I am playing a game or scrolling through the reels—then I am not feeling the same feeling that was felt by this protagonist. So, what is this feeling that I am feeling?

Do you think that existentialism has changed in the era of this technology? If yes, then how? And if not, then also explain me how, and explain also the nuances of existentialism in this era.

Chat GPT's Answer:

1. The Context: Roquentin’s “Free Time” vs. Our “Occupied Time”

Antoine Roquentin (the protagonist) has time and silence in which he begins to see the world.

He isn’t constantly distracted; he’s alone, idle, detached from routines — which allows him to feel the raw presence of things, like the root, and that triggers his existential crisis.

But today, our lives are the opposite. We’re almost never alone with ourselves. We fill every pause — with reels, games, chats, YouTube. Our minds are constantly “occupied.”

This doesn’t mean existentialism has disappeared. It means the conditions for feeling existential awareness have changed.

 2. Existentialism Then vs. Now

Aspect	Classic Existentialism  (Sartre, Camus, etc.)	| Tech-Era Existentialism (You/Us Now)
Trigger	Boredom, isolation, silence → forces reflection	Distraction, overstimulation → prevents reflection
Experience	Confronting absurdity, contingency, “Nausea”	Feeling emptiness, anxiety, or loss of meaning beneath constant engagement
Freedom	Realizing “I am free, and that terrifies me”	Being “free” to choose endlessly but lost in algorithmic choices
Alienation	From society or God	From oneself — we outsource thought, memory, and even attention to machines
Response	Authentic choice in a meaningless world	Reclaiming presence, silence, and genuine awareness amidst noise

 

3. What You’re Describing — “That Feeling”

You said something very profound:

“Sometimes I feel the same as the protagonist, but when I’m with my friends, or playing games, I don’t feel it.”

That’s the modern form of Nausea.

It’s that fleeting moment when all the noise drops — maybe late at night, maybe when you’re suddenly not scrolling — and the world feels too real, too empty, too unnecessary. You sense the “weight” of existence, just as Roquentin did with the root. But as soon as you go back to reels or games, that existential awareness dissolves — replaced by distraction and dopamine.

In Sartre’s time, people had too much silence. In our time, we have too little silence. Both lead to different forms of existential tension.

 4. So, Are We “Less Existential” Now?

Not less — but differently existential.

• We still face the same questions: “Why am I here?”, “What’s the point?”, “Am I living authentically?”

• But now, our awareness is buried under layers of technology and entertainment.

• The “existential void” hasn’t gone away — it’s been muted by constant distraction.

In fact, the very need to keep scrolling, watching, and gaming can itself be seen as a symptom of existential discomfort — we’re avoiding that deep confrontation with meaninglessness that Roquentin had to face directly.

 

5. What If Roquentin Had a Smartphone?

If Roquentin had a phone, Instagram, and Netflix, he probably wouldn’t have written Nausea. He would have felt the same strange unease occasionally — maybe when looking up from his phone in the park — but he’d scroll it away.

But maybe, one day, the algorithmic repetition would itself cause him Nausea — the meaninglessness of endless digital loops, the realization that no reel, no game, no content fills the void.

That could be the new Nausea — not from a tree root, but from the endless feed.

 

6. The Nuance: Existentialism in the Digital Age

Modern existentialism isn’t about the fear of absurdity — it’s about the loss of awareness of absurdity.

We’ve moved:

• From “Why does anything exist?”
  → to

• “Why am I never really present in my own existence?”

The new existentialist task is:

“How can I reclaim my existence from distraction and automation?”

To be existential today might mean putting the phone down, looking at something ordinary — a tree, a shadow, your own reflection — and actually feeling its absurd, contingent presence.

 In Short

You’re asking the same question Sartre asked, but in a new medium.

You’ve already touched the essence of existential thought by noticing that disconnection — that sometimes you feel your existence, and sometimes you lose it in the stream of technology.

So no, existentialism hasn’t died.

It’s simply harder to hear — drowned out by the noise of constant connection.

And perhaps the true existential act today is not to think more, but to pause — to reclaim silence long enough to actually feel existence again.

Question: You just mentioned the contrast between the classical existentialism and existentialism that we have in this technological era, so can you give me a simple explanation with an example from day-to-day life so that I can understand the key difference between them with the help of this example?

Chat GPT's Answer:

1. Classical Existentialism (Sartre, Camus, Kierkegaard)

The Core:

People had time and silence to think, and that made them directly feel the strangeness of existence.

 Example:

Imagine Antoine Roquentin sitting alone in a park.

He looks at the root of a tree and suddenly feels —

“Why is this here? Why am I here? Nothing has any reason to exist.”

That deep unease, that awareness that everything is just there without purpose — that’s existential realization.

It leads to Nausea, but also to freedom — because if nothing has a fixed meaning, you can choose to create your own.

 In short:

Classical existentialism = confronting silence, absurdity, and meaninglessness directly — and then creating your own meaning.

 

2. Existentialism in the Age of Technology (Today)

 The Core:

We rarely experience silence or boredom.

Whenever that uneasy “existential” feeling begins to appear, we distract ourselves instantly.

 Example:

You’re alone at night.

Your mind starts to wander —

“What’s the point of all this scrolling, studying, working?”

You feel a small emptiness…

Then you grab your phone and open Instagram, or play a quick game — and that feeling disappears.

That moment — the one you just escaped — is your Roquentin moment.

But technology gives you an instant anesthetic — a way to silence the question instead of facing it.

In short:

Modern existentialism = feeling the same emptiness, but constantly drowning it out with distraction.

 

3. Side-by-Side Comparison

Aspect	Classical Existentialism	Modern Existentialism
Trigger	Silence, solitude, boredom	Distraction, overstimulation
Main Experience	“Nothing has meaning.”	“Everything feels empty or fake.”
Response	Create your own meaning through conscious choice	Fill the void with screens, entertainment, busyness
Symbol	Roquentin’s tree root — pure absurd existence	Your phone screen — endless but hollow content
Emotion	Nausea — shock of existence	Numbness — escape from existence
Path to Authenticity	Face absurdity and make meaning	Pause distraction and feel reality again

 4. A Simple Analogy

Think of life as a quiet lake.

• In Sartre’s time, people sat by the lake and looked into the still water — they saw themselves, and sometimes it scared them.

• In our time, the lake is covered in ripples — notifications, reels, news, memes. We rarely see our reflection.

But the lake is still there. If we stop scrolling for a while, it becomes calm — and suddenly, we see ourselves again. That moment can feel uncomfortable — but it’s also the moment of truth.

Classical existentialism was about facing existence directly.

Modern existentialism is about escaping existence constantly.

Yet, the core remains the same — both are about realizing:

“I am here, and it’s up to me to give meaning to my life.”

 

Thank you for reading. 

Taste of Cherry (1997) | Movie Review

Greetings,

In this post, I am going to share my review and thoughts on one of the most popular Iranian films, Taste of Cherry. It was released almost 30 years ago, in 1997. You might consider me late to watch this movie, but finally, the film has found me well.

The Taste of Cherry is written, directed, and produced by Abbas Kiarostami, the celebrated Iranian filmmaker whose name I first came across in Kaun Banega Crorepati. My curiosity then led me to this film. Despite its relatively short length, it is a slow-burning movie that slowly immerses the viewer.

The entire film revolves around the idea of suicide. As Camus famously asserted in The Myth of Sisyphus, "There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide." Kiarostami’s movie does not offer solutions but instead provides reflections and meditations on the nature of existence. Should we die because of unhappiness, or because of the monotony of life? Or should we find happiness in small things—like eating and sharing a handful of cherries?

The movie is ultimately a metaphor for the human condition, and the realization that the world can be meaningless and indifferent. Mr. Badii, the protagonist, is caught in this existential dilemma. He wants to end his life and chooses a unique way to do so, he drives around in his car, searching for someone who would agree to bury him after he takes an overdose of sleeping pills. He encounters several people, but nobody is willing to "help" him in this task, even when he offers a large sum of money. Finally, an old man agrees, but before committing to the act, he shares his own perspective on life. His reflections partly changes Mr. Badii’s view, though not entirely.

The cinematography is striking and impressive. We rarely see the outside world in detail; instead, the camera focuses on Mr. Badii’s face. His emptiness and ennui are etched so deeply that it feels as though we are staring into hollowness itself. The barren mining site, with its dusty mounds, serves as an objective correlative for Mr. Badii’s empty inner world.

At times, it feels as though Mr. Badii desperately wants to kill himself but is also afraid of making that choice. Perhaps this is why he seeks another person's help—to both witness and affirm his decision, or maybe to stop him by reminding him of the beauty of life. The old man succeeds in doing just that at last. In his desire for death, Mr. Badii also reveals a hidden desire to live—and this paradox is, to me, the central lesson of the film.

The ending is ambiguous. Kiarostami even breaks the fourth wall, and though unconventional, it feels necessary. I will leave it undisclosed for you to discover yourself.

"The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream."

Life Skills | Self Awareness, Empathy, Conflict Management, and Interpersonal Relationship

# Introduction - Life Skills

Life skills are the essential abilities that enable individuals to effectively deal with the challenges, demands, and opportunities of everyday life. They are not limited to academic knowledge but encompass the emotional, social, and cognitive competencies that help us live meaningfully and responsibly in society.

“the abilities for Adaptive and Positive Behavior that enable the individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life."

These skills include creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, collaboration, and social responsibility—qualities that shape confident, empathetic, and active citizens. In today’s complex and fast-changing world, life skills are crucial for success, well-being, and responsible participation in both personal and public life.

Teaching life skills equips young people with the tools to manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and make informed decisions. It also fosters awareness of rights and responsibilities, encouraging active involvement in communities and democratic processes. As identified by the World Health Organization (WHO), life skills go beyond academics—they define how we think, feel, and interact with others, ultimately helping us lead balanced, compassionate, and purposeful lives.

  

• Conflict management allows us to handle disagreements without damaging bonds.

• Interpersonal relationships show us how to build trust, respect, and cooperation.

• Decision-Making and Problem-Solving – The ability to make thoughtful choices and find solutions to challenges, whether big or small.

• Creative and Critical Thinking – Creative thinking allows us to come up with new ideas, while critical thinking helps us question, analyze, and evaluate those ideas logically.

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills – The foundation for building relationships, expressing ourselves clearly, and understanding others effectively.

• Self-Awareness and Empathy – Knowing ourselves (our strengths, weaknesses, and emotions) and being able to connect with the feelings of others.

• Assertiveness and Equanimity – Standing up for ourselves respectfully, while remaining calm and balanced even in difficult situations.

• Resilience and Coping with Stress/Emotions – Managing pressure, bouncing back from setbacks, and handling emotions in a healthy way.

Together, these skills are not just tools for personal success but also the foundation for a kinder, more humane society. 

What is Life Skill ? And Its Importance. 

 # Meaning of Life Skills

Life skills are the basic abilities that help us deal with everyday challenges in personal, social, and professional life. These are not just academic lessons, but real skills we learn through experience and practice.

They include creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, teamwork, and a sense of personal and social responsibility.

In today’s world, life skills are as important as knowledge because they prepare us to live successfully, contribute to society, and become responsible citizens. These skills enable positive behavior and help individuals manage their lives successfully.

# Real and Practical Nature of Life Skills

Life skills are important because they deal with issues that are real, relevant, and practical. They touch upon sensitive matters like relationships, values, family, and society.

Sometimes they may be controversial, since people often have different opinions on what is right or wrong.

Ultimately, life skills connect to morality, helping us decide what is good, important, and just in life.

# Need for Teaching Life Skills

Teaching life skills is essential for building a healthy democracy and society.

Citizens must be:

• Aware of their rights and responsibilities

• Informed about social and political issues

• Concerned about the welfare (well being) of others

• Able to express opinions clearly and participate in decision-making
• These qualities do not develop automatically; they need to be taught and nurtured systematically.

 # Benefits/Importance of Life Skills for Young People

Training in life skills helps young people in many ways

#Helps You Make Good Choices 

Life skills help you think clearly before acting.

They guide you to look at different options, solve problems wisely, and make good decisions instead of reacting emotionally.

# Improves Communication and Relationships 

Life skills make you better at talking, listening, and understanding others.

They help you build strong, healthy relationships with friends, family, teachers, and classmates.

You also learn to cooperate, share ideas, and solve conflicts peacefully.

# Boosts Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem 

Life skills help you believe in yourself and feel positive about who you are.

When you’re confident, you can face challenges like peer pressure, bullying, or failure bravely and make good decisions for your future.

# Improves Mental Health 

By learning to manage stress and emotions, life skills reduce anxiety, anger, and depression.

They help you stay calm, think positively, and handle problems without losing control.

# Encourages Awareness and Social Responsibility 

Life skills make you more aware of what’s happening in your community and society.

You start caring about issues like equality, health, education, and the environment—and learn how to take positive action.

# Leads to Academic Success 

Students with good life skills have better focus, attendance, and grades.

They know how to manage time, plan their work, and stay motivated to achieve their goals.

# Promotes Social Development 

Life skills teach values like respect, kindness, and tolerance.

They help you become a responsible citizen who understands others and contributes to a peaceful society.

# Teaches Problem Solving and Prevents Risky Behavior 

With life skills, you learn to think critically and act safely.

They help prevent problems like substance abuse, violence, or bullying by promoting self-control and smart decision-making.

#Builds Empowerment and Participation 

Life skills give you the courage to speak up, share your ideas, and take part in decisions—whether at school, at home, or in your community.

You learn to be an active and responsible participant in society.

#Prepares You for Adult and Working Life 

Life skills prepare you for the future by teaching teamwork, leadership, and responsibility.

They help you adjust to new situations and succeed in your personal and professional life.

# Encourages Positive Contribution to Society 

Life skills inspire you to make the world a better place.

They help you become a kind, aware, and compassionate citizen who works for peace, equality, and progress.

.

In short, life skills are not just about surviving but about thriving.

They help us grow as individuals, improve our relationships, and create a society that is informed, responsible, and compassionate.

#Understanding Self Awareness 

In philosophy, self-awareness is understood as the ability to reflect on one’s own personality, individuality, traits, feelings, and behaviors. It is different from simple consciousness. Consciousness means being aware of one’s body and environment — for example, noticing that you are sitting in a classroom and listening to a lecture. Self-awareness, on the other hand, is the recognition of that consciousness; it is turning your awareness inward and asking, “What kind of person am I? How do I feel, and why do I behave this way?” For instance, while sitting in class you may not only listen to the lecture but also realize, “I feel nervous about speaking in public, but I feel motivated when discussing literature.”

From a psychological and life-skills perspective, self-awareness is the practice of noticing and reflecting on our emotions, habits, and responses in daily life. It is like being both the “actor” living life and the “observer” reflecting on how you act within it. If awareness is about noticing the outside world — such as observing your surroundings — then self-awareness is about noticing yourself in that world. For example, you may be conscious that you are eating lunch, but self-awareness means noticing that you eat quickly when stressed and more slowly when relaxed.

This reflective ability allows us to understand our strengths, weaknesses, and motivations more honestly, rather than just clinging to the image we want to project to others. It is also what enables us to connect with others through empathy, because only by being aware of our own feelings can we truly appreciate those of another person.

Self-awareness therefore matters both philosophically and practically. Philosophically, it is tied to the age-old question of “Who am I?” and helps us recognize our individuality. Practically, it helps us manage emotions, reduce anxiety, build healthier relationships, and design lifestyles that align with our real values. In short: consciousness tells us “I exist,” while self-awareness tells us “I exist as this kind of person, with these traits, emotions, and motives.”

 Why is Self-Awareness Important?

Many times, we do not pause to identify our strengths and weaknesses. This can cause:

• Underuse of strengths (you don’t realize what you’re good at).

• Unrecognized weaknesses (your habits block your growth without you noticing).

Self-awareness helps you

• Be comfortable with yourself.

• Use your strengths fully.

• Recognize and manage stress.

• Improve your decision-making.

• Build healthy relationships.

Example: If a person realizes he procrastinates (keeps delaying work), he can practice better time management and improve efficiency.

Types of Self-Awareness

Scholars often describe self-awareness in two ways:

1. Internal Self-Awareness : Understanding your emotions, motivations, values, strengths, beliefs, thoughts, inner world and weaknesses.
   Example: You realize you feel anxious before group presentations because you fear judgment.

2. External Self-Awareness : Understanding how others see you, perceives you and your actions and your personality. 
   Example: You may think you are “funny,” but others may see you as “sarcastic.” Knowing this helps you adjust your behavior.

Ignoring vs. Exploring Feelings

Many people ignore their feelings of dissatisfaction, stress, or unhappiness. They might say, “Everything looks fine — why do I feel empty?” Without self-awareness, such feelings stay unexplored and grow into bigger problems like anxiety or burnout.

• Ignoring feelings : More stress, distraction, unhappiness.

• Exploring feelings : Clarity, self-growth, healthier decisions.

Examples:

• Hamlet (Shakespeare) ignored his conflicting emotions for too long, leading to tragedy.

• In Tamasha movie, Ved realizes he is unhappy because he is living society’s version of success, not his own truth. His breakthrough comes only when he becomes self-aware.

 Benefits of Self-Awareness

Self-awareness builds many important life skills:

• Recognizing strengths & challenges – You know what you’re good at and what needs work.

• Managing needs & emotions – You can talk about your feelings and handle stress better.

• Understanding others – Empathy grows when you understand yourself first.

• Building self-esteem – You learn to value yourself realistically, not by comparing with others.

• Learning from mistakes – You develop a growth mindset, turning failures into lessons.

Example: A boss who is self-aware realizes that shouting at employees lowers morale. Instead, he practices calm communication, creating a healthier workplace.

# Empathy 

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It is often described as “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.” Empathetic people are able to visualize emotionally what someone else is experiencing, whether it is joy, sadness, pain, or confusion. They create a safe, non-judgmental space for others to express themselves, making them feel understood, accepted, and valued.

'Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another'

 - Alfred Adler

Types of Empathy

There are three main types of empathy:

Cognitive Empathy: The ability to understand another person’s thoughts or perspective. It allows a person to predict how someone might feel or think in a situation without them expressing it explicitly.

Emotive (Affective) Empathy: The ability to feel what another person is feeling. For example, feeling sadness when a friend is grieving or anxiety when someone is embarrassed.

Compassionate Empathy: Going beyond understanding and feeling, this type motivates a person to take action to help others. It combines emotional understanding with a desire to alleviate suffering.

Importance of Empathy

Empathy is a critical life skill because it:

Builds meaningful connections

Empathy is the foundation of strong and healthy relationships. When you listen and understand without judgment, people feel valued and cared for. This strengthens bonds with friends, family, colleagues, or even strangers. An empathetic person naturally becomes a better listener and a better human being in every relationship. They don’t just hear words, but also feel the emotions behind them, which creates trust and closeness.

Develops wisdom without experience

Empathy helps us practice perspective-taking—stepping into someone else’s shoes and viewing the world from their eyes. This makes us better listeners and also better learners. When you see life through another person’s struggles, joys, and experiences, you gain wisdom without always needing first-hand experiences. This kind of learning is powerful because it builds humility, understanding, and respect for diversity.

Fosters a humane society

Empathy has the power to transform society at large. When individuals practice cognitive, emotive, and compassionate empathy, it leads to collective actions that reduce harm and build trust.

• Humane policies: Empathetic leaders and policymakers design systems that focus on human welfare, fairness, and equality.

• Empathetic bosses, parents, and teachers: They nurture rather than control, making growth more natural and less fearful.

• Disaster response: Communities that practice empathy come together faster and more effectively during crises.

• Environmental empathy: Beyond humans, empathy extends to nature. Recognizing the pain of environmental degradation leads to sustainable and eco-conscious actions.

Empathy in Literature and Life

Literature is one of the greatest teachers of empathy. Every time we read a novel or poem, we step into the world of characters, experiencing their pain, joy, and dilemmas. This builds our ability to understand perspectives different from our own.

For example, when you read about heartbreak or struggle in a novel, you momentarily carry the emotions of that character, practicing empathy in a safe but powerful way. 

As James Baldwin once said: “You think your pain and heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.”

Benefits of Empathy

• Strengthens relationships and trust
• Helps regulate one’s own emotions
• Encourages prosocial behavior like helping, kindness, and altruism
• Reduces conflicts in personal and social settings

Challenges of Empathy

While empathy is a strength, excessive empathy can sometimes cause empathy fatigue, emotional overwhelm, or poor decision-making if one constantly prioritizes others’ feelings over their own. Balancing empathy with self-care and boundaries is essential.

Compassionate Fatigue 

It is a type of emotional and physical exhaustion that happens when someone is constantly exposed to the suffering or stress of others, often in caregiving or helping roles. People experiencing it may feel overwhelmed, drained, or numb, find it harder to empathize, and sometimes withdraw from social interactions. It can also cause irritability, anxiety, or physical fatigue. Compassion fatigue can be prevented by setting healthy boundaries, practicing self-care, seeking support, and balancing time spent helping others with activities that restore your energy.

Manipulation

Sometimes empathy can be misused, where one group or person manipulates emotions to control or dominate another. Thus, empathy needs balance—caring for others while also caring for ourselves.

Signs of an Empathetic Person

• They are good listeners, offering space without judgment.

• People naturally come to them for advice and comfort.

• They are trusted by many because they genuinely care.

• They can understand emotions without lengthy explanations.

• They actively reach out to help others in need.

• They challenge biases and prejudices, promoting fairness and compassion.