In today’s industrialist, capitalist society, big corporations relentlessly push the idea that we need more material items to be happy and fulfilled. We are conditioned to believe that accumulating possessions, securing a permanent place, and forming strong attachments to people are the keys to a meaningful life. However, these attachments – what I call the “Five Ps” (Possessions, Places, People, Pleasures, and Purpose) – lead to unhealthy feelings about death and delay our acceptance of it.
These attachements aren’t new, as we’ve seen many prominent people throughout history form unhealthy attachments to all. The problem is that in the past, it was mainly aristocratic individuals that fell victim, while the modern industrial society is built upon the idea that if any individual, aristocratic or not, is attached to the Five P’s then they are no threat to the system and modern society itself.
1: The Five Peace-less P’s
Possessions & Places
Possessions are marketed as symbols of success and fulfillment, but they often create a fear of loss rather than satisfaction. The more we own, the more we fear leaving it all behind. Similarly, we attach ourselves to specific Places, believing they hold our identity. When our sense of self is tied to where we live or where we find comfort, the thought of losing access to these places – whether through moving or death – becomes a source of anxiety.
People
Attachments to People can feel like the cornerstone of existence, but they also foster a deep fear of losing those connections or being lost to them ourselves. I, by all means, am not suggesting you refrain from creating any relationship with another person. What I am stating is that you should understand that you will not have eachother forever and you should spend your time with them in a way that leaves no room for regret infused attachments to one another. Additionally, death becomes unbearable not just because of its finality, but because it tears apart the relationships we’ve spent our lives growing entirely dependant and reliable on having with us forever.
Pleasures
Pleasures, including fleeting experiences like sex, drugs, and other pleasure inducing activities, are often seen in pop-culture as being beneficial for one’s happiness. However, these pursuits can lead to dependencies and distractions that keep us from finding deeper, lasting contentment.
Just like possessions, the more we chase these pleasures, the more we fear losing them, intensifying our anxiety about death.
Purpose
Lastly, the need for Purpose – the societal pressure to find or impose a grand meaning on life – adds another layer of attachment. People often believe they must have a distinct purpose to justify their existence. However, this search for meaning can be artificial. Clinging to a sense of purpose ties us to outcomes or legacies, making the idea of death unbearable if we feel we haven’t achieved what we’re “meant” to. Embracing the fact that life has no meaning and no clear origin, a topic of which I have written previous articles about, will set you free in a way not comprehendable to anyone who still ties themselves to mere coping mechanisms.
2: How to Overcome the Five P’s
Peace with life leads to peace with death, and releasing yourself from the chains of the Five P’s is a very large step in the right direction. Here are some ways you can detach yourself from the Five P’s, while also distancing yourself from the confines of modern society.
Detachment from Possessions & Places
To detach from Possessions, start by questioning the true value of the things you own. Minimalism can be a practical step – only keep items that directly contribute to your basic needs or genuine happiness, rather than status or comparison to others. A great way to recuse your materialism is by imaging you are a person who is always travelling. Image you only have your backpack. What would you need in that bag? You can also reduce your consumption by embracing secondhand goods or simply limiting new purchases. When you learn to live with less, you’ll realize that most possessions are burdens rather than benefits. Each item becomes less of a crutch for your identity and more of a tool to serve your basic life.
For Places, challenge the notion that your identity is tied to specific locations. The idea that you belong to a certain city, country, or even a home only creates an emotional cage that makes leaving or losing it difficult. Try to live more like a nomad. Practice leaving places for a while to explore new places. I found that a great way to do this is by hiking on your own into untouched nature to build independence from places you would usually feel locked to. Learning to feel at home within yourself rather than in a physical space reduces the emotional weight tied to any one place, making the eventual loss of it easier to handle.
Detachment from People
To detach from People, approach relationships with an awareness of impermanence. This doesn’t mean isolating yourself or avoiding connections but reframing how you relate to others. Spend time with loved ones, but understand that relationships are not about possession. Shift your focus from clinging to a person to appreciating shared moments without expecting them to last forever. Detachment doesn’t mean emotional coldness – it means cherishing each relationship while being mentally prepared to let it go without regret or bitterness when it ends, whether through death or distance.
Understand that every relationship is fleeting, and no person can or should bear the burden of being your whole source of meaning. By accepting this, you won’t fear the inevitable separation but can instead find peace in knowing that nothing in life is permanent, including people.
Detachment from Pleasures
To detach from Pleasures, recognize their fleeting nature and the cycle of desire and dissatisfaction they create. Whether it’s physical pleasures like sex or temporary distractions like entertainment, learn to see these pursuits as momentary indulgences rather than pathways to lasting happiness. Experiment with abstaining from certain pleasures, even briefly, to understand that you don’t need them for fulfillment. By controlling your relationship to these experiences, rather than letting them control you, you reduce their power over your emotions.
Consider finding joy in simplicity – activities that don’t demand constant stimulation, like spending time in nature or practicing mindfulness. These practices help you break the cycle of dependency on high-intensity pleasures that capitalist systems encourage to keep you caged.
Detachment from Purpose
To detach from Purpose, challenge the notion that life must have a grand, predefined meaning. Society often conditions us to believe that without a clear purpose, life is empty. However, embracing nihilism – acknowledging that life has no inherent meaning – can free you from the pressure to live up to external expectations. Instead of searching for a mission or legacy to leave behind, live in the present moment. Fulfillment doesn’t come from adhering to society’s demands for purpose but from being content with the randomness and uncertainty of existence.
Reject the idea that you owe something to society or history. By letting go of this artificial pursuit, you release yourself from the fear that you haven’t “done enough” with your life.
The capitalist system thrives on these attachments, convincing us that fulfilment comes from external sources. Yet, in doing so, it detaches us from the understanding that life, in its simplest and rawest form, is inherently valuable.
To truly live without fear of death, we must reject the corporate narrative of materialism and the societal pressure to assign meaning to life. I speak as someone who has come close to mastering this thinking, and have found that a great relief and sense of peace is felt, as death is no longer feared. By detaching ourselves from the Five Ps, we can accept death in a healthier, more peaceful way, and live fully without the constant, often subconscious anxiety of what we might lose.
