From Post-9/11 fears of terrorism, to the existential angst of the modern human, horror movies have always been a lens into our deepest fears and how we perceive death.

(Ignore the brief cuts/inconsistencies, had a few technical difficulties. My apologies <3)

We're all inherently afraid of doing what we're meant to do on this Earth. Own your gifts and step through that threshold. Fear is a great challenge for us to overcome and often there is truth and fulfillment beyond it.

In response to AMP #169 - The Game Of LIfe, we're here today to talk about what it means to live life with an active "quest log". Video games are important to us and adding fulfilling quests to your day brings us closer to living a video game for real. We all have an internal final boss to face, what do we need to do to prepare?

Simply put, how do we fight back against our own internal darkness? Even simpler so, love it. Forgive yourself that you are capable of committing great atrocities, because you have a responsibility to commit great deeds of love.

We are all capable of making horrible mistakes and are subject to those that do. The pain and anguish that others cause us can be overwhelming. Sinking deeply into ourselves and learning to forgive our fellow humans no matter what may be the key to happiness.

Not every day goes our way. Sometimes we start off on the wrong foot and can't get a handle on our emotions. What is the best way to approach a day like this and how do we manage our downtrodden spirits? Ultimately, we have to understand that this is par for the course for the human experience and there are important lessons to be learned here.

Why does metal/hardcore/counterculture often resonate with "broken" people? What is it about the aggressive, emotional nature of heavy metal that brings about such great thought and artistry? And what lessons can we learn from those willing to put themselves out there in such an intense way?

They say you're a sum of your five closest friends. What if you're the sum of everything else close to you as well?

The truth fucking sucks sometimes. We all have demons and darkness that we need to acknowledge and confront. That much responsibility can be daunting, but the good news is all of those challenges are here for a reason.

Today, there’s an important lesson to be learned here for all of us. Every single thing you experience in your life is pointing you in a director. The personal hell you’ve found yourself in is there to teach you something. Growth is painful, but it’s not meaningless, and it’s ultimately beautiful.