I’ve found that most folks feel like they’ve fallen short of their potential or are wasting life. Even many super, super rich and successful people have issues with these emotions.
I have realized that the “I’m wasting my life” emotion is really a misplaced “I’m going to die one day” emotion. The media feeds us stories about people fighting good and evil or overcoming these huge obstacles, and we think life needs to be just like that. We are also wired to want to leave a legacy behind when we go, so there is this constant struggle to be more than you are.
But a huge, huge chunk of life is lived in boring details. And even if I imagine reaching all of my loftiest goals, so what? I’m still going to die. Nobody will really remember me. But therein lies a little freedom. If nothing matters and nobody will remember me, then I can do whatever I want. Even if I mess up royally, odds are nobody will care and/or remember.
I try to make sure I’m doing things that will help future me. But otherwise I am trying to relax when it comes to winning the achievement game. I do have some random goals that are fun and quirky and hopefully achievable. Outside of those, I’m hoping to be along for the ride.
Txannie1475 t1_jcsdpv8 wrote
Reply to [discussion] What helps you combat the “I’m wasting my life” mentality? by brooke512744
I’ve found that most folks feel like they’ve fallen short of their potential or are wasting life. Even many super, super rich and successful people have issues with these emotions.
I have realized that the “I’m wasting my life” emotion is really a misplaced “I’m going to die one day” emotion. The media feeds us stories about people fighting good and evil or overcoming these huge obstacles, and we think life needs to be just like that. We are also wired to want to leave a legacy behind when we go, so there is this constant struggle to be more than you are.
But a huge, huge chunk of life is lived in boring details. And even if I imagine reaching all of my loftiest goals, so what? I’m still going to die. Nobody will really remember me. But therein lies a little freedom. If nothing matters and nobody will remember me, then I can do whatever I want. Even if I mess up royally, odds are nobody will care and/or remember.
I try to make sure I’m doing things that will help future me. But otherwise I am trying to relax when it comes to winning the achievement game. I do have some random goals that are fun and quirky and hopefully achievable. Outside of those, I’m hoping to be along for the ride.