Wisdom and the Living a Fulfilling Life
"You never know what a day may bring." -C.S. Lewis
In the west, we live in a materialistic society where people spend more time trying to make money or stay healthy, and less time on what really matters: happiness. We work so hard to chase pointless things, that we feel empty even when they are laying by our side. Sometimes it seems like everyone else has the life that's perfect; as if without effort at all they have everything they need and deserve while you're stuck doing it all by yourself.
Fulfilling The Quest
The pursuit of wisdom is an inward journey, a quest that's deeply rooted in the past and is far from over. It's a lifelong adventure that takes courage, commitment, dedication, and focus.
Let go of what the world tells you, because it doesn't define you as a person. Stop searching for detailed directions on how to live your life when these so called 'experts' don't even know the right path for themselves. Knowing who they are or where they're going won't help either. Instead focus on what matters, because it will always be with you throughout life: friends and family who truly care about you and love you for who you are. Look to those who are living the life of meaning and know that while you may not have all the answers, they have your back and will hear you out when you reach out for them. When a friend needs support, or you need guidance, call on those who are already standing by your side.
Fill the void in your soul with self-love and appreciation. Learn to care for yourself deeply enough to show gratitude for the simple things in life that make it worthwhile. If you want a fulfilling life, understand that it doesn't happen by accident or luck; it's hard work, lots of perseverance and a positive outlook on life. Value yourself, honor yourself so that others can respect and trust you as well.
Mindful Living
In today's society, we are typically focused on solving problems that don't matter, but can be easily avoided. In the quest for better health, we buy plastic surgery and unnecessary medicine to make us look younger. We spend billions on cars and electronic gadgets that we barely use. These are just a few examples of the western ways of viewing our daily frustrations as more important than life itself.
We are failing to recognize the true value that is required to live a meaningful life: mindfulness, integrity, freedom from fear. We need to stop using technology for temporary distractions and look deeper at what really matters in our lives.
The pursuit of wisdom doesn't come easily; it's a process that can take years. The 'wisdom' one possesses is not just words or insights, but is much deeper than that. It's in the ability to rise above our own fears and to always do what's right, no matter what the cost may be. Wisdom is the art of seeing how things really are, and acting upon this knowledge.
Wisdom requires real-world experience, and does not come from books or ideas. A person who goes through life without experiencing life will never understand true wisdom; he will only seek it after he suffers through living it.
So put your time, energy, and money into what really matters in life. Do what feels good for you and not what others tell you to do. Life is a journey, not a destination, so take your time while you're on the road for it's the journey that counts.
Every day is an opportunity to live a better tomorrow by being more mindful of the life we are living. We have the choice to be aware of our surroundings and interact with people around us in meaningful ways. We can choose to be kinder to ourselves and others by being less judgmental about our circumstances. To live a fulfilling life, we need to take the time and commit ourselves to learning more about our own worth.
Love and Light,
-J.S.-
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/86798476@N03/6686115987
1 Mindfulness is defined by Oxford Dictionaries as "the psychological process of paying attention in a particular manner, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally." It's also typically defined as being aware of or thinking about what you are doing or experiencing at any given time, without judging it as right or wrong.
2 "For thousands of years, the wisdom traditions have been teaching us that all of life is holy, and everything we think, feel, and do matters."- Sylvia Boorstein
3 Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who lived between 384-322 B.C. He is credited with being one of the most important thinkers in Western philosophy.
4 "Life isn't about finding yourself; it's about creating yourself." -George Bernard Shaw
5 "I'm not going to change the world but I can make a small difference where I am. I'm not just going to sit around complaining and blaming the other person. I'm going to take action. I can change my life." -Harvey Milk
6 "There is no reason why a person should not live a full and happy life without having any religion at all." -Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion
7 "I believe that if a child grows up with love, security, encouragement, and freedom from fear, he or she will be unafraid to reach out for his highest potential." -Plato
8 Viktor Frankl was a Viennese neurologist and psychiatrist as well as an existential philosopher and Holocaust survivor. He is widely considered to be one of the most important psychotherapists in the world.
9 "A courageous person is not one who does not feel afraid, but one who conquers that fear." -Mark Twain
10 Buddha was born in 563 B.C. and was a spiritual teacher and philosopher whose teachings form the foundation of Buddhism.
11 The Bhagavad Gita (Song of God) is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the religious text known as the Mahabharata . The Gita includes teachings about Yoga, meditation, Karma, Dharma and more. It has inspired many great thinkers and philosophers throughout history.
12 Rabbi Joshua ben Gamla was a rabbi from the 2nd century. Born in Jerusalem in AD 63, he left his own society to travel among the Hellenistic Jews. His writings included ethical guidance and also a work of history called Seder el Hagadol .
13 Taoism is one of the oldest philosophies on Earth, dating from around 1500 B.C., but has acquired a new lease on life as a result of its influence in modern times. It's available as an easily accessible yet complex philosophy that has influenced countless individuals over the years to live an authentic life based on humility, authenticity, and compassion for all living things.
Conclusion
Modern society is always striving to be more and more successful. We use all of our resources on a daily basis in order to excel in the world of work and technology. The older we get, the harder it is to learn new things, but every day we strive to be the best we can be. The reality is that we have created an ever-growing machine that has taken over our lives, but as long as it keeps working for us, we will continue to strive towards perfection.
We spend hours upon hours on the computer, looking at our social media feeds and checking our emails; this is all in pursuit of a better life.