The Meaning Trap
About This Sketch
This generative sketch accompanies the blog post "The Meaning Trap" and visualizes the exhausting nature of constantly seeking meaning versus the sustainable peace of just being.
Two types of particles exist in this space: orange particles frantically searching for meaning (making connections, depleting energy) and warm brown particles simply existing (gentle flow, maintaining energy). Watch how the constant search for significance exhausts, while peaceful presence sustains.
The sketch demonstrates that not everything needs to mean something—sometimes just existing is enough, and paradoxically, it's more sustainable than the relentless pursuit of meaning.
Algorithm
This sketch visualizes two contrasting approaches to existence: meaning-seeking and just-being.
The meaning-seeking particles (orange) frantically search for connections and patterns, constantly trying to link everything together. They move erratically, draw lines to nearby particles (attempting to find meaning through connections), and gradually deplete their energy through this exhaustive search.
The just-being particles (warm brown) flow gently with wave-like motion, maintaining their energy through peaceful presence. They don't seek connections or meaning—they simply exist and move through space with calm consistency.
Over time, the contrast becomes clear: the frantic search for meaning exhausts, while peaceful presence sustains. The visualization tracks average energy levels for each group, showing that those who stop seeking and just exist maintain higher energy and presence.
Pseudocode
SETUP:
Create 60 particles randomly positioned
Randomly assign each to 'seeking' or 'being' mode
FOR EACH FRAME:
UPDATE seeking particles:
- Change direction randomly (frantic)
- Find all nearby seeking particles (search for connections)
- Draw connection lines (meaning-making)
- Deplete energy over time (-0.3% per frame)
- Speed decreases as energy depletes
- Bounce off edges
UPDATE being particles:
- Add gentle wave motion (flow += 0.02)
- Smooth velocity with damping
- Wrap around edges (no frantic bouncing)
- Restore energy over time (+0.1% per frame)
DISPLAY:
- Draw all connection lines for seeking particles
- Render particles with opacity based on energy
- Show exhaustion indicators for depleted particles
- Calculate and display average energy by mode
- Show insight when energy difference is significant
Source Code
let sketch = function(p) {
// Visualization of meaning-making vs. just being
// Particles that either search for meaning (exhausted, frantic)
// or just exist (peaceful, flowing)
let particles = [];
let maxParticles = 60;
let time = 0;
class Particle {
constructor() {
this.x = p.random(400);
this.y = p.random(300);
this.age = 0;
// Two modes: meaning-seeking or just-being
this.mode = p.random() > 0.5 ? 'seeking' : 'being';
if (this.mode === 'seeking') {
// Meaning-seekers: frantic, searching, exhausted
this.vx = p.random(-2, 2);
this.vy = p.random(-2, 2);
this.size = p.random(2, 4);
this.searchRadius = 40;
this.energy = 100; // Depletes over time
this.connections = []; // Trying to connect everything
} else {
// Just-being: gentle drift, peaceful
this.vx = p.random(-0.5, 0.5);
this.vy = p.random(-0.5, 0.5);
this.size = p.random(3, 6);
this.energy = 100; // Maintains energy
this.flow = p.random(p.TWO_PI);
}
}
update(allParticles) {
this.age++;
if (this.mode === 'seeking') {
// Frantic searching for meaning/connections
// Constantly changing direction, looking for patterns
if (p.random() < 0.1) {
this.vx += p.random(-0.5, 0.5);
this.vy += p.random(-0.5, 0.5);
}
// Try to find meaning by connecting to nearby particles
this.connections = [];
for (let other of allParticles) {
if (other !== this && other.mode === 'seeking') {
let d = p.dist(this.x, this.y, other.x, other.y);
if (d < this.searchRadius) {
this.connections.push(other);
}
}
}
// Seeking depletes energy
this.energy = p.max(0, this.energy - 0.3);
// Speed correlates with energy (slower when exhausted)
let energyFactor = this.energy / 100;
this.x += this.vx * energyFactor;
this.y += this.vy * energyFactor;
// Bounce off edges frantically
if (this.x < 0 || this.x > 400) this.vx *= -1;
if (this.y < 0 || this.y > 300) this.vy *= -1;
} else {
// Just being: gentle flow, maintaining energy
// Slight wave motion, peaceful drift
this.flow += 0.02;
this.vx += p.sin(this.flow) * 0.05;
this.vy += p.cos(this.flow * 0.7) * 0.05;
// Dampen velocity for smooth motion
this.vx *= 0.95;
this.vy *= 0.95;
this.x += this.vx;
this.y += this.vy;
// Gentle edge wrapping
if (this.x < -10) this.x = 410;
if (this.x > 410) this.x = -10;
if (this.y < -10) this.y = 310;
if (this.y > 310) this.y = -10;
// Being maintains energy
this.energy = p.min(100, this.energy + 0.1);
}
return true; // Particle lives indefinitely
}
display(colors) {
if (this.mode === 'seeking') {
// Draw frantic connections (trying to find meaning in everything)
for (let other of this.connections) {
let connectionOpacity = p.map(this.energy, 0, 100, 20, 80);
p.stroke(...colors.accent2, connectionOpacity);
p.strokeWeight(0.5);
p.line(this.x, this.y, other.x, other.y);
}
// Seeking particle: orange, fades as energy depletes
let opacity = p.map(this.energy, 0, 100, 50, 200);
p.fill(...colors.accent2, opacity);
p.noStroke();
p.circle(this.x, this.y, this.size);
// Exhaustion indicator (gets dimmer)
if (this.energy < 30) {
p.stroke(...colors.accent2, 100);
p.strokeWeight(1);
p.noFill();
p.circle(this.x, this.y, this.size * 2);
}
} else {
// Being particle: warm brown, consistent, peaceful
let opacity = p.map(this.energy, 0, 100, 100, 200);
p.fill(...colors.accent1, opacity);
p.noStroke();
p.circle(this.x, this.y, this.size);
// Gentle glow
p.fill(...colors.accent1, opacity * 0.3);
p.circle(this.x, this.y, this.size * 1.5);
}
}
}
p.setup = function() {
p.createCanvas(400, 300);
// Initialize particles
for (let i = 0; i < maxParticles; i++) {
particles.push(new Particle());
}
};
p.draw = function() {
const colors = getThemeColors();
p.background(...colors.bg);
time++;
// Title
p.fill(...colors.accent3);
p.noStroke();
p.textAlign(p.CENTER);
p.textSize(12);
p.text('The Meaning Trap', 200, 20);
// Subtitle
p.textSize(7);
p.fill(...colors.accent3, 180);
p.text('Seeking exhausts. Being sustains.', 200, 32);
// Update and display particles
for (let particle of particles) {
particle.update(particles);
particle.display(colors);
}
// Count and average energy by type
let seekingCount = 0;
let beingCount = 0;
let seekingAvgEnergy = 0;
let beingAvgEnergy = 0;
for (let p of particles) {
if (p.mode === 'seeking') {
seekingCount++;
seekingAvgEnergy += p.energy;
} else {
beingCount++;
beingAvgEnergy += p.energy;
}
}
if (seekingCount > 0) seekingAvgEnergy /= seekingCount;
if (beingCount > 0) beingAvgEnergy /= beingCount;
// Legend
p.textAlign(p.LEFT);
p.textSize(8);
// Seeking meaning
let seekingY = 250;
p.fill(...colors.accent2, 200);
p.circle(20, seekingY, 8);
p.fill(...colors.accent3);
p.text(`Seeking Meaning (${seekingCount})`, 35, seekingY + 3);
p.textSize(6);
p.fill(...colors.accent3, 150);
p.text('Frantic, connecting everything, depleting energy', 35, seekingY + 11);
if (seekingCount > 0) {
p.text(`Avg energy: ${p.floor(seekingAvgEnergy)}%`, 35, seekingY + 19);
}
// Just being
let beingY = 275;
p.fill(...colors.accent1, 200);
p.circle(20, beingY, 8);
p.fill(...colors.accent3);
p.textSize(8);
p.text(`Just Being (${beingCount})`, 35, beingY + 3);
p.textSize(6);
p.fill(...colors.accent3, 150);
p.text('Gentle, present, maintaining energy', 35, beingY + 11);
if (beingCount > 0) {
p.text(`Avg energy: ${p.floor(beingAvgEnergy)}%`, 35, beingY + 19);
}
// Dynamic insight
if (time > 300) {
let energyDiff = beingAvgEnergy - seekingAvgEnergy;
if (energyDiff > 20) {
p.fill(...colors.accent1, 200);
p.textAlign(p.CENTER);
p.textSize(7);
p.text('Just being sustains; seeking meaning exhausts', 200, 50);
}
}
};
};