We Live on the Same Planet, But in Different Worlds
In today’s day and age, we’re drifting further and further apart from each other.
The little devices we hold in our hands have more control over our lives than we like to admit — and more than we’re even aware of.
They shape the very reality we see on a day-to-day basis.
We may live on the same planet, but the worlds we experience are completely different from one another.
In this article, I want to share something a little more philosophical and spiritual — but don’t worry, it still connects back to fitness.
It’s something I’ve noticed for a while now, and I seem to be one of the few who actually see it.
I’m not here to preach. I just want to share it — and maybe open your eyes a little, too.
We Used to Be Shaped by Culture
Every human on this planet is not born with a personality or worldview — it’s created by the environment.
That may sound basic, but it’s crazy how few people actually understand this.
You’re not who you are because you were born that way. You are who you are because of what shaped you.
Back in the day, the person you became was sculpted mostly by the culture you grew up in.
And by “culture,” I mean both the culture of your parents and the country you were raised in.
Sure, you can argue your parents play a huge role — but even they were shaped by culture.
So really, it all comes back to that.
From the food you eat, to what you accept as normal, to the dreams you chase — all of it flows from the cultural lens you were handed.
And with that lens comes its own strengths… and its own downsides.
I can’t speak for every culture, but I can share mine.
I was born in the Netherlands. My parents are from Vietnam.
Naturally, the person I became is a fusion of Dutch and Vietnamese culture.
From the Vietnamese side, I used to view older people like all-knowing beings — people you must never disrespect.
In Vietnamese (and many Asian) cultures, elders are treated with the utmost reverence. If you don’t, you’re seen as a bad person — and I’m putting that lightly.
Now, from the Dutch side?
It’s a completely different vibe. You’re taught to be straightforward. To speak your mind. To treat everyone — even elders — as equals.
So when I was younger, I was hesitant to speak up. At home, Vietnamese values ruled. But the more time I spent in Dutch environments, the more direct I became.
And in the eyes of Vietnamese culture… I probably came across as rude.
That’s just one small example. But there are thousands more.
Honestly, I could write a whole book about how culture shapes us. There’s even an academic field that studies this: anthropology.
But in today’s world, something even more powerful has taken the steering wheel.
We’re Now Shaped by Our Social Media
The average person spends over three hours a day on social media.
Now sure, that may seem like less than the time you spend around real people.
But those three hours? They’re potent.
Because they’re three straight hours of pure content, pure messaging, pure energy — injected right into your brain.
And let’s be honest… people are less social than ever.
So social media isn’t just something we use — it’s becoming the main shaper of who we are.
To show you what I mean, let me give you a real-life example.
This happened on a recent trip I took with a friend. (Let’s hope he never reads this article, because I’m about to expose something he probably doesn’t even realize. And if he does — his ego would never let him admit it. Another topic for another day.)
I’ll use an alias. Let’s call him Chad — which is kind of ironic, because he actually is a Chad. Tall, handsome, muscular. The guy society would label as “alpha.”
(No homo.)
Chad’s not addicted to Instagram, but he uses it every day.
And the kind of content he consumes? It’s a very specific cocktail:
Luxury lifestyle + hustle culture.
Think expensive watches, private jets, exotic vacations…
Mixed with “work 20 hours a day” content, telling you you’re a loser unless you’re rich.
When you combine these two?
You get someone who worships material success and is willing to do anything to get it.
Well… that’s Chad.
On the trip, 95% of his conversations revolved around money.
Yachts. Jets. Status.
Randomly dropping lines like, “Bro, imagine us pulling up in a 50-meter yacht next year.”
And it gets worse — Chad genuinely believes he has a $100 million software idea.
His words: “This is at least a $10 million idea.”
Now, I’ve built software for real companies. I know how insane that sounds.
But even if you haven’t — you probably feel how off that is.
What’s happening is simple:
Chad’s content diet is creating his worldview.
The constant exposure to flashy success stories has rewired his brain.
He sees life through a lens of:
“If you don’t have luxury, you don’t have value.”
He doesn’t even see people anymore.
He sees what they own.
And to me?
That’s messed up.
Your Lens Is Your Reality
That might sound cliché, but it’s real.
The way you see the world becomes the world you live in.
Chad is just one example.
But there are millions of people like him — walking around with warped perspectives, shaped by whatever content they consume the most.
The internet is full of subcultures, ideologies, and echo chambers.
And depending on the lens you choose (or the one chosen for you by the algorithm), you’ll experience life very differently.
Social media warps that lens.
Let me give you another example — a dark one, but a real one:
Gender hate.
Right now, there’s a growing divide between men and women online.
Spend enough time scrolling, and you’ll see endless content of:
- Men getting rejected or divorced
- Women getting cheated on or used
- Clips designed to stir up anger, resentment, and fear
Now look — I’m not saying these things don’t happen.
They absolutely do.
But the more you consume this content, the more you believe it’s the norm.
And that’s dangerous.
If you’re a woman constantly seeing men cheat, you’ll believe all men are dogs.
If you’re a man constantly seeing women manipulate, you’ll think all women are fake.
And here’s the worst part:
You’ll judge people before you even meet them.
Not based on who they are…
But based on what the internet told you.
That’s not truth.
That’s a distorted reality.
It’s Not All Bad Though
After all that, you might think I’m anti-internet.
I’m not.
The truth is — it’s not all bad.
There are real people online.
People who share truth, not just content for clicks.
People who’ve lived, messed up, learned, and evolved — and want to share that.
And I like to believe I’m one of them.
I’m not perfect.
I’ve made mistakes.
I’ve fallen into the trap.
I used to chase money to fill a void.
I used to grind, not from purpose — but from insecurity.
I was running from myself.
But I stepped away from that.
I experimented with the opposite.
I slowed down.
I got quiet.
I started building from a place of presence, not performance.
And I grew.
That’s also my message to you:
If you’re stuck in a loop — challenge the loop.
If you’re deep in a lens — try on a different one.
It won’t be easy.
You’ll have to set aside your pride, your ego, your emotions.
You’ll have to be open enough to be wrong.
But it’s worth it.
If There’s One Truth I’ll Always Stand By — It’s Fitness
There are voices online that will try to make you feel bad for wanting to improve your body.
They’ll say:
- “Just accept yourself.”
- “Working out is toxic.”
- “You’re enough as you are.”
And look — self-acceptance matters.
But don’t confuse acceptance with avoidance.
Because in my eyes?
A lot of people aren’t accepting themselves — they’re coping.
They don’t want to face their discomfort, so they dress it up in feel-good quotes.
And that’s fine — if that’s their choice.
But if you want to shift…
If you want to change your body — and maybe your perspective too —
Do it right.
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