Life is a simple thing that we give meaning to. All the activities in the world, the actions that people repeat daily, are about people putting meaning into life. Unfortunately, life has no map, or pre-planned handbook that will show the way forwards.
One of the biggest deceptions of human existence is the idea that we can, somehow, predict our future with well set plans. Hence, the saying, “man plans, God laughs”.
If you want your life to be worthwhile, so you feel alive, and that you experience meaningfulness each day, you need to exert effort into daily existence. That means become interested in something that you alone deem valuable.
It doesn’t matter what you choose to call meaningful, what matters is that you put the energy into giving it proper attention. This allows your mind to experience the value of the action.
Here’s an example. I love weight lifting for strength. I lift the weight up, and then let it down. Then I lift the weight up, and let it down again. I basically do this for about one hour each session. And I find it exhilarating, enjoyable, and it gives me a sense of being alive — there’s nothing like the last rep on a military press. The thrill of it, will I be able to finish it, or will the weight overwhelm me and drop? An enjoyable battle.
This battle is an experience that only comes through taking action.
Many people who work out in the gym spend most of their one-hour training session attempting to flee the whole process of being present. They don’t feel the weights, focus on the lift, or even think about why they are working out. We know this because they have a smartphone in one hand, and ear buds in their ears, they are often also using their eyes to watch the adverts for holidays/vacations on the half dozen TV sets splattered around the gym walls. Many people wander around the gym talking on the phone,
They are not present.
If you are not present, then you will never experience the actions. You will be running on automatic. Your mind will be disengaged.
If you want to enjoy life, find meaningful activities that are worth doing each day, then learn to focus on an activity. Give it the time to seep into your brain so that you can feel its vibes. Find out why it’s worth your attention by doing it properly.
Many people say that weight lifting is boring, and they only do it to keep fit. Nothing on this earth is boring if you practise it according to your own free will.
We can never know what is good for us by only thinking about it. We must always take action to overcome the stance of being an onlooker who thinks they’ve seen it all before.
Whatever it is that you seriously choose to do, and you do it with all your will and determination, you will discover that for you, it is not boring, simply because your mind is fully engaged in the activity.
All things in life have their opposites.
Boredom is the opposite of activity. (it isn’t the opposite of excitement).
Boredom is when the brain and body are dormant.
Action is when the body and mind are fully engaged and working together.
Activity is more complex than boredom, and therefore offers a dynamic experience that demands your attention, focus, and engagement, which all express themselves in an experience of meaningfulness.
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