I recently asked my followers on social media whether they had any blog post requests, and I had received interesting answers. One of which made me ponder and think long and hard. It stood out to me not only because of its depth but because I hadn’t truly thought of it yet. It was a question that is imperative to answer because, by doing so, the purpose of living and the understanding of what it means to be alive become apparent. Living can’t only be sleeping, working, eating, socializing and repeating. Surely, there has to be some added meaning. A purpose, if you will.
When exploring this concept, there are so many variables and underlining facets to an individual that come into play, such as what is deeply embedded in one’s psyche, for example. Our learnings, perception of reality, climatic factors, and cultural norms, before taking into account hopes, dreams, and aspirations, as this is our essence and what our cognitive composition comprises of as humans. Therefore, life must be about learning, experiencing, and discovering. Particularly more so about one’s existence and, secondarily, about environments.
Our virtues, beliefs, and value system are our constant unconscious and involuntary guide. Because of this bias, what feels right to one may not be to another, and vice versa. To live a good life could be to express moral fibre approval. Being a good person may directly translate to living well, but what constitutes the intangibility that equates to being a good person? This is where courage, trustworthiness, selflessness, generosity, humility, and empathy tend to be gauged. Therefore, this metric is based on emotional intelligence and philosophical predispositions used to preemptively project a life’s trajectory. There is no such thing as perfection and to deny this is to simply reject the duality of life.
Intelligence is also an important factor for some. That, in itself, is subjected to the conditioning of rhetoric in varied ways, whether institutionalized or not. Self-development is a personal endeavour that impacts our entire being and sense of spirituality. Could living well actually mean having the best material things, thus measuring success based on the status quo? If so, how would that be accurately explained when the basis of comparison for any level of equity is disproportionate from one to another, proving such an exercise to be futile from inception? For some, being able to breathe and get out of bed every day is the ultimate success, regardless of existing riches or the lack thereof, for their health is defined as their wealth.
There is a quote by Pablo Picasso that brings me to equilibrium at this point, which is: “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
I thrive to live a life that satisfies me wholeheartedly, makes my soul smile and sets me free with jubilee. I aim to persistently pursue my highest excitement and trust that my contribution is worthwhile and adds a holistic positive influence. I realize that mistakes are guaranteed and by the same token, so is development. Life is interpreted and implemented differently by every person, and I respect that varied perspective. I accept that this is the essence that contributes to the vibrancy of society. I find it fascinating and enjoy exploring the unique embodiment of every beautiful identity.
Mark Twain stated that the two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. Today his words resonates more than ever.
Whilst considering all the aforementioned factors, living with the intention of leaving a meaningful legacy behind and enjoying the present moment is what living a good life means to me.
Live a Good Life by EJ for EJblogtv
an Enjoyment Journal about Everything EJ
xoxo