Everyone desires happiness. Above all, we seek peace, regardless of our race, religion, or background. Yet, peace often seems elusive. Many of us attempt to escape reality—whether physically or within our minds—in search of it. This raises a crucial question: is reality truly uncomfortable, or is our perception of it flawed?

Reality is shaped by our perception. If it feels uncomfortable, could it be that we are making it so? While occasional discomfort may be accidental, when it becomes a persistent state, it suggests a fundamental mismatch. Often, we adopt new mismatches to accommodate existing ones—like telling one lie to cover another. But does true mismatch exist in nature, or is it something we create?

Nature operates with purpose and reason, making the concept of a true mismatch contradictory. However, one phenomenon appears inherently mismatched with life itself—death. Death seems at odds with our experience of living, possibly because our understanding of both life and death is misaligned with nature. If this is true, what does it mean for our perception of existence?

Conventionally, life is perceived as beginning at birth and ending at death, a perspective rooted in physical existence. While we undeniably exist physically, this does not rule out non-physical existence. Once we consider the possibility of a non-physical self, our entire model of life changes. Society largely defines life based on what is observable, leading us to equate existence solely with the physical body. This creates a vast divide between those who see life as “only physical” and those who recognize a potential beyond the physical.

Similarly, our understanding of death is based on an external observer’s perspective. When the body ceases to function, society declares a person dead. However, if existence extends beyond the physical, then death, as we know it, may not be absolute. Over time, our reliance on physical markers of life and death has contributed to ethical dilemmas—such as brain death, organ donation timing, and end-of-life care decisions—highlighting the limitations of our current model.

Now, imagine a paradigm shift where we acknowledge that existence consists of both physical and non-physical aspects, and that death only signifies the loss of the physical form. This perspective could resolve many of the mismatches we experience. Interestingly, most religions advocate this view, and a significant portion of humanity has historically believed in it. However, many people—both religious and non-religious—do not apply this belief practically in their lives. Some even dismiss it as unscientific, though science has yet to refute or confirm it.

The contradiction arises when individuals claim to believe in an ideology but reject core aspects of it in practice. The Death and Adjustment Hypotheses (DAH) offer insight into this inconsistency. DAH suggests that human existence does not necessarily end with physical death. However, for materialistic gain, many people unconsciously treat death as the absolute end, reinforcing the belief that only the physical self matters.

If DAH were embraced, we could shift our focus beyond physical survival. For instance, in cases of terminal illness where preserving the body is futile, acknowledging the non-physical self might offer solace. This shift in perspective could also alleviate the massive financial burden associated with end-of-life care, allowing resources to be redirected toward health, education, and poverty alleviation. Moreover, if existence continues beyond physical death, the demand for material success in life might lessen, fostering a greater emphasis on moral integrity. The idea of compensation beyond death could encourage ethical behavior, and even in the face of devastating losses—such as losing a loved one—we might find hope.

Currently, science neither proves nor disproves non-physical existence. Therefore, an adamant denial of such a possibility may indicate bias rather than rationality, potentially supporting DAH’s premise. If applied practically, the concept of non-physical existence could help address numerous societal challenges, including consumerism, addiction, inequality, and environmental degradation. Even without religious beliefs, an optimistic and open-minded approach to existence beyond the physical could lead to a life of deeper peace and fulfillment—something we all seek.

By shifting our model of life, we might just find the happiness and peace we have always longed for.