I Have always find myself wondering about life from time to time, it is a concept I have never fully grasped. No matter how long I think about it most times I still can't make a meaning of it. Life is so fragile and difficult, you could be having the best time of your life in one moment and then in another minute all the joy and happiness is just gone like it never happened. One of the most tragic thing about life is, it is natural for humans to experience more sorrowful moments than happy once regardless of how comfortable or wealthy you are, It is one of nature's greatest wonders.
The journey of life is full of crisis and uncertainties, In the mist of our chaotic existence we grow gradually and eventually become wary. Different individuals driven by passion and determination to achieve what we consider to be our purpose in life, dreams and wishes. We dedicate a significant years of our lives to sort and find the purpose of our existence whatever it might be, then we spend the remaining part of the time we have left on earth chasing and trying to achieve our found purpose or probably fixing the mistakes we have made in the process. This makes me wonder if we are truly living or just surviving because if we as humans go around chasing these purpose and dreams, maybe eventually achieving it, does that mean we have lived? Does having a purpose define our existence?
Most humans tends to mistake, surviving for living, though it seems synonymous but it is not the same. Survival has always been a basic human instinct, ability to strive and be alive against any odds. Survival doesn't really have a time frame or phase like other developments in human lives such as puberty, Survival is a continuous struggle of staying alive till eventually we are not.
It means we as humans are programmed to spend our entire lives trying to survive, which might seem normal but it isn't. Being alive and trying to survive all through seems exhausting. Going by our day to day activities trying to make ends meet, hustling and then what? few years later we look back and we wonder what exactly have we done with our lives? But despite that there is something that always keeps us going and wanting to wake up every morning to pursue our dreams, something called purpose.
It is so tragic how we ignore one of the most important questions we are meant to ask ourselves as humans which is, what is the point of life? what is the point of living? Who am I? What if I tell you that your purpose in life is not the point of life, neither is it any kind of physical activities we engage in. I have always been curious about why some people are living while others are just surviving. It has nothing to do with how much you have or your net worth in general. if that was the case then the poor are not meant to be capable of smiling.
Being overwhelmed by what needs to be achieved is the main reason why most people are busy surviving instead of living but for others who galavant and find contentment in the process are those that are privileged to be living. I'm not saying settling for less means you are living but that thing you are obsessed about achieving it, if eventually it is achieved will it make you feel better about yourself? will it define who you are or what you are meant to be?. As humans there will always be something to achieve, the moment you achieve that, there will always be another you desire, it is what make us humans but the feeling you get from those activities you engage in matters a lot.
Does it make you feel fulfilled? greatness and success are all admirations of life but fulfillment is a personal conviction that puts your mind at ease, knowing you have fulfilled the sole reason of your existence. I believe Instead of being too occupied with survival why not try living because at the long run when our youthful days are long gone and we look back at the years spent on earth all we have left is the experience and feeling of a life well spent, in the absence of those two its creates a hole in our mind with feelings of emptiness and regret of a life wasted.
As much as our purpose in life doesn't fully define us but the feeling of being fulfilled comes from achieving some certain things we consider to be our purpose, So to an extent I believe what gives our lives meaning and a sense of direction is having a purpose to hold unto but what makes us satisfied with our life is knowing we have lived.
This write-up was inspired by week 24 SciFi multiverse prompt titled "Essence of life, the search for purpose, the hustle continues regardless." in SciFi multiverse community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺
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