What is the best way to live life?
I believe this can be one of the most profound, individual, and philosophical questions there is.
In this article, I attempt to provide and clarify my own answer to this question.
It is a query that I think is frequently pondered, especially in the modern world.
This is particularly relevant because, in the Western world, the possibilities available seem almost limitless.
While just a few years ago, it was clear that as a man, you had to follow in your father’s footsteps, and as a woman, you assumed the role of a mother.
Today, you have much more freedom to shape your own life.
This freedom can be very beneficial, but the sheer multitude of options can sometimes be so overwhelming that it leaves you unsure of which path to take, causing you to come to a standstill.
I found myself grappling with this question after completing school when I wasn’t entirely certain about how I wanted to proceed with my life.
The abundance of possibilities often led me into a state of analysis paralysis.
Nevertheless, the philosophical framework I describe in this article greatly assisted me in navigating this uncertainty.
It is evident, however, that this question will likely always be answered within a particular temporal context and remains a highly individualized matter.
Therefore, this article serves as a personal reflection rather than a scientifically based essay.
So, what is the best way to live life?
In my opinion, it is to experience as many things as possible.
It’s about more than just living a monotonous life; it’s about trying out many different lives.
It’s a bit like the movie “Catch Me If You Can” with Leonardo DiCaprio, where he plays a character who keeps slipping into new roles.
At one point in the film, he’s a pilot; at another, he’s a hospital doctor, and at one point, he also works as a lawyer.
Even though it happens in the film in an illegal way, of course, this symbolizes life as I see it, the most fulfilling.
I believe that having many lives within one is the way to go.
It goes beyond what most of us do on vacation.
It’s not just about learning about new cultures, new people, and new work; it’s about actually living and experiencing them.
My opinion differs from others in that my highest goal in life isn’t solely to seek as much happiness and joy as possible.
While it’s nice if it happens along the way, and you should certainly enjoy it as much as possible, I believe the best life is the most fulfilling and eventful.
It’s not about getting through life unscathed and carrying a pristine body into the grave at the end; it’s about making experiences, day after day.
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
Certainly, each of us has daily responsibilities and tasks that need to be accomplished.
There are goals we must strive for and aspirations we want to fulfill.
However, for me, it remains essential that every day contributes to a new story.
It’s a delicate balance between consistency and change, a blend of building up and the experiences we accumulate.
Building up, as I see it, encompasses the aspects of life that demand constancy and repetition.
This includes personal growth, setting and achieving goals, maintaining one’s health, continuous learning, work, and financial stability.
Experiencing, on the other hand, involves drawing from these foundations and crafting new narratives.
It means trying new things, both independently and with others, in new places, with new objects, and embracing variety by continually authoring new stories.
In my opinion, this is the most fulfilling way to live life.
Hope I could help. If you enjoyed the article or if you have any questions or comments please let me know down below.
Nick
