What do I live for?

It is scary, don’t you think? To walk through life aimlessly, naked as you came, moving wherever the wind blows you.<o:p></o:p> It is too big a risk if you ask me. In a world where even thoughtful planning and careful examination sometimes fail to deliver, yet you still choose not to examine your life at all.<o:p></o:p> I don’t think Socrates fully considered the magnitude of his quote, “An unexamined life is not worth living,” in today’s world. During self reflections and when life shows me shege, I often consider this life absurd and lacking in meaning.<o:p></o:p> It is little wonder the Greek philosopher Plato argued that living purely on autopilot—accepting societal rules without thought—reduces a person to mere existence rather than true living. One must question why they do what they do, especially if the idea never originated from them in the first place. Like having to ask the Creator why you are here for instance? Who's to say his path aligns with what is in your head? <o:p></o:p> Life can be far more mysterious than we pause to admit, and failing to carve our own path and purpose makes us passive observers rather than active participants. Why do people fear challenging the status quo, probing further into a phenomenon they aren’t entirely convinced of, or strongly abhorring following the crowd?<o:p></o:p> Ikigai—a Japanese term meaning "a reason for being." People rarely find it early; for most, it takes time, and for some, it morphs into a higher path. It could be something as simple as desiring to wake up next to a loved one each day or as deep as re-shaping the mentality of the men who repress their emotions because of societal conditioning to unconditionally expressing them. Whatever it is, it is paramount that one has a theory, philosophy, or principle guiding their every action. You know, like something worth living for. It is the only order one can make out of our chaotic existence.<o:p></o:p> There are some examples; several philosophical frameworks I recommend: Stoicism, Existentialism, Pragmatism, etc. Stoicism says one should distinguish between what they can control and what they cannot, focusing energy only on personal actions and responses while accepting external events calmly. Existentialism posits that life has no inherent meaning and that one must create their own. Pragmatism tests beliefs by their real-world results rather than purely theoretical logic.<o:p></o:p> Now, I understand there are times we are saddled with the fear of sticking to an ideology to the death, especially when life tests our boundaries. Life would always test your resolve anyways, it’s conflicted for a reason. Friends would, family, job... name it. But you should know; only a person who is true to themselves and sticks to their guns is satisfied with whatever the outcome is. That inner satisfaction overrides even a negative result. <o:p></o:p> Again, not everyone finds their purpose early. For some, it is inborn—too obvious not to see. For others, it comes with experience and plenty of lessons learned. For some, it just takes time. But when you find it: hold it, hone it, and revolve your world around it.<o:p></o:p> Setting aside time for self-reflection and examination of personal objectives helps filter out trivialities and maladaptive behaviours. It allows you to restrategise and make a stronger comeback on life's journey.

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