Finding Meaning in 'Signs': A Korean Author's Reflection on Intuition in the Digital Age

In an increasingly digital world, where constant connectivity and productivity are often equated with value, South Korean author Mo Yu-jin reflects on the societal pressure to "always be doing something." In her essay, she confesses to feeling guilty after spending hours on platforms like YouTube or webtoons, realizing that "I've never felt like I lived a good day after watching them." This anxiety stems from a belief that "one's value is only recognized if one is constantly productive."

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I've never felt like I lived a good day after watching them.

Mo cites the pervasive marketing tactics that prey on people's anxieties, filling social media feeds with urgent calls to action like '3 things you must do' or 'reasons you'll be in big trouble if you don't.' She counters this with a personal slogan: "I'd rather live with a few losses." This sentiment is echoed by author Tara Swart in her book "The Source," who notes that "in modern times, stress is rampant. A significant part of it is due to technological advancements that push us to work faster and harder, making us stare at screens all day instead of observing the things around us that could enrich us."

Swart argues that technology has severed humanity's connection with nature and fostered extreme individualism, disconnecting us from a sense of something larger than ourselves. Despite society's emphasis on logic and reason, Mo highlights the existence of "intuition" – an inner voice that neuroscience is increasingly validating. By trusting this intuition, Mo suggests, we can better recognize and utilize the "signs" that appear in our lives.

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one's value is only recognized if one is constantly productive.

These "signs" can manifest in various ways, from a loved one's soul to a divine or cosmic source. Mo shares a personal connection to the numbers '4.19,' her birthday and a date of historical significance in Korea, and a Bible verse from Matthew 4:19. She recounts how a chance encounter with an American professor led to a collaboration in the U.S., where she learned to find joy in these seemingly coincidental numbers. Her professor, a mother, CEO, and academic, trusted the number '11,' seeing '11:11' on a clock as a sign of divine guidance. Inspired, Mo began embracing '419' in her own life, finding comfort when her car's remaining mileage showed 419 km or seeing 4:19 on a microwave. These occurrences felt like warm affirmations of her life's path.

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I'd rather live with a few losses.

Mo tested this belief by asking for three instances of '419' as a sign of a recent opportunity's validity. Remarkably, the library's default password was '0419,' she entered the number herself to log in, and later, a KBS documentary producer asked her birthday, which is April 19th. This trifecta of signs brought a profound sense of peace. In a world grappling with rapid AI advancements, economic shifts, and a crisis of values, Mo concludes that what we truly need are these "signs" that help us feel our lives vividly and live in harmony, rather than drowning in external information.

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in modern times, stress is rampant. A significant part of it is due to technological advancements that push us to work faster and harder, making us stare at screens all day instead of observing the things around us that could enrich us.