For many of us, to wonder too openly, or intensely, about the meaning of life sounds like a peculiar, ill-fated, and unintentionally comedic pastime. We believe it isn’t anything an ordinary mortal should be doing – or would get very far by doing. A selected few are equipped to take on the task and discover the answer in their own lives, but such ambition isn’t for most of us. Meaningful lives are for extraordinary people: great saints, artists, scholars, scientists, doctors, activists, explorers, national leaders.
Yet, in truth, the subject is for everyone; it is for all of us to wonder about, and define, a meaningful existence. There needs to be nothing forbidding about the issue. A meaningful life can be simple in structure, personal, usable, attractive, and familiar.
But, how does one calculate the value of human life?
Is it by the value he/she gives to society? Or Is it by his/her nature and the virtues they follow? Or is it how much they earn? If one accepts that, these indeed are the set of parameters one can use to measure human value, then in that case— a high earning assassin or even a bogus psychic with good nature leads to a great life!
We may not have meaningful lives yet, but it’s central to affirm that the concept of a meaningful life is eminently plausible – and that it comprises elements that can be clearly named and gradually fought for.
Personally, I believe that there are five pillars that should define a human’s life.
- Purpose
- Passion
- Competence
- Detachment from expectations
- Being true to themselves
As rightly said by Roy T. Bennett, “If you have a strong purpose in life, you don’t have to be pushed. Your passion will drive you there.”
Human beings are like guns. But a human without a purpose is a gun without bullets.
Surely it looks lethal but it’s nothing more than hard junk. Human beings are the gun and their purpose is the bullets. When these two meet along with the gunpowder of passion, you get a loaded gun or a lethal human being. Yet, as every dangerous weapon made up till now, there has to be a wielder of such a powerful weapon. Hence the skill to handle a lethal human comes into the picture- Competence.
Expectations are premeditated resentments.
We all are familiar with the fact that expectations are meant to be ruined. Hence I feel that detachment from expectations is the key to a happier life. Sure this detachment brings dissatisfaction but on the contrary, unexpected surprises always give you the hit of dopamine no matter how small and leave you feeling delightful. Isn’t that what we live for? Hits of the pleasure hormone and secretions of chemicals in our body for a sense of blissfulness and fulfillment?
Yes, one should always strive to be the most excellent version of themselves as I feel chasing happiness is played out. If you’re old then you’ve been around long enough to see that life isn’t like the movies, there’s no happily ever after. The invention of the airplane was also the invention of the air crashes, the discovery of fire was also the birth of arsonists. One problem gets solved, and another one gets created, and that’s okay!
If you want to strive for something that’s attainable, strive for a life that exists on your own terms.
Once we escape the clutches and expectations of others, we’ll realize that we had the keys to those cages all along, and our sentence in the cage was the comfort we found behind the bars due to the familiarity of it.
Always strive to be better than yesterday and don’t get trapped in the blame game or denial.
It’s very important to be true to yourself because after all, we’re human beings who are meant to make mistakes. We all have our set of flaws and vices but that’s what makes you unique in the first place.
The structure of life is held by Integrity- the integrity of bricks—of choices, and the astute notes of judgment.
Life is indeed your own making.
Make it a melody of principles and ethics or a rudderless namby-pamby, you hold the leash of your chariot. Either use the fire within to become a furnace to mold yourself or use it to set ablaze this world, it’s always been your choice and within you!
– Written by Shubham (IG profile: @vocabby365)
example of gun is wonderful…also tje pillars defined are broad nd comprehensive…one needs to understand them deeply.