To say it as simply as possible, everything dreads its eventual nonexistence.

The most concrete example of this fear is fear of biological death, but everything that has consciousness fears its end and wishes to preserve itself forever.

This includes nations, religions, social institutions of all kinds, integrated philosophical systems, individual beliefs, notions — even moods.

I’ve come to regard all anxiety as a signal that something I am associated with, either some psychic element of myself or some collective form of being I belong to as a participant is feeling impending nonexistence.