Are you living or just existing?
An odd question the first time you hear it, but one of my favorites. When you start thinking about the two and how they might be different, you can start putting things into perspective yourself. In my opinion, the two are vastly different.
Simply just existing can drain you emotionally, mentally and physically. It’s like a trap that we fall into because it’s the type of life that society puts forth as “normal”. It’s that 9-5 you work just waiting for those two precious days off. Its that house and car you make payments on every month not having the finances to do anything more. Its finding yourself waking up in the morning feeling a lack of purpose and fulfillment, just doing the motions to make it through each day. Existing is long term survival.
In a sense, its all about control. To be living life means to have control over your life, your emotions, your title, your time. Its not letting your ego dictate your thoughts and actions. To be living means to choose happiness every morning and unapologetically chase your dreams every day. It’s embracing change as it comes and not living in fear of the unknown. Its being grateful for the things you have and not constantly stressed about the things that you don’t. Living is taking action on all those times you’ve scrolled through Instagram and thought “why can’t I do that?” or “why can’t I be there?”
Somewhere between childhood and adulthood we lose our passion. We stop doing things because they make us happy and start doing things because were told to. We start to lack freedom and drive as we grow older.
Making the change from existing to living may seem simple, or it may not, but either way it requires being honest with yourself. It means digging deep and asking yourself the hard and uncomfortable questions. The questions like…
Are you doing the things that YOU want to be doing? Are you doing even one?
Are you always seeking approval from others?
Do you find yourself regularly looking for an escape?
Its time to stop making excuses for yourself and for others around you. Understand the mental effort it takes to choose “living” every single day and eventually it will come naturally. I truly believe that you get out of life what you put in.
Thank you for reading. I encourage anyone to leave their thoughts or notes in comments below. I’m always interested in personal growth or hearing what other people have to say.
Until next post, cheers!