The Shortness of Life
Life is short.
Seneca famously wrote “On The Shortness of Life”. In the rush of life, it’s easy to see the days pass quickly. Weeks turn to months, that turn into years, and suddenly we realise we’ve been stationary for years. Focusing on always moving forward, however, can be stressful and overwhelming. The constant focus on growth can actually lead to a lack of contentment and a neglect of the present.
So how can we balance the shortness of life with this pursuit of growth?
How To Pursue Growth In The Shortness of Life
Try New Things – This is how we can discover what we find meaningful in life. Once we discover meaning, we can set goals that contribute to this purpose.
Approach Your Fear – Another Seneca classic quote is “We suffer more in imagination than in reality.” We worry more before events and often find they aren’t as bad as our imaginations plot. This has led me to characterise this reflection upon the fear in two ways. After doing anything that scared you beforehand, do you feel good discomfort or bad discomfort? If it’s good discomfort, you feel proud and happy you saw it through to the end. If it’s bad discomfort, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth. You’re uncertain if you enjoyed it or not. Good discomfort is what allows us to grow, and when we couple good discomfort with trying new things, it’s what contributes to growth and could eventually become staples in our routines. Bad discomfort means you gave something a go, and you’re glad you did, but it’s not for you. Recognise the difference between your good and bad discomfort.
When Ideas Start Flowing, Take Note – I know I love writing because I get ideas quicker than I can execute them. Think of aspects of your life that you could talk about forever, or time flies when you’re embroiled within it. These are likely areas where you feel some deep passion. An addendum, however, sometimes if we pursue growth in these endeavours, different feelings can arise. It can feel like a job or a chore. So consider, do I want to seek growth in this area, or is it an area that can help me feel present and enjoy the shortness of life?
Photo by AbsolutVision on Unsplash Journal – It can sometimes be difficult to understand ourselves. We stand the best chance if we journal. This doesn’t have to be pages upon pages of self-analysing. There exists one-line journals or three-sentence journals, and one of my personal favourites is the “1000 Awesome Things” gratitude reflection. Every day, I write one awesome thing about my life. Over time, you find yourself filled with gratitude. It could be a person, a thing you did, a song, a place, the fact the sun is shining, or a pet! A lot of the time it’s something to do with my dog, which I’m sure is understandable. Over time, we see that the most gratitude-filled moments are those in which we were present. Times in which we recognise the shortness of life and all its beauty.
Relationships That Bring Energy – The idea of a relationship tracker could be an odd concept to some. But I find it helpful to keep up with people who I care about, and who bring me energy. Life can get busy, but if we actively track which relationships give energy and which take it, we can deepen and cultivate those good relationships. It can also help us see those who we haven’t caught up with in a while. This will continue to bring us more joy and happiness, and ensure we remain responsible for maintaining our relationships, which is a two-way street!
Work-Life Balance – We can’t appreciate the shortness of life if we’re constantly working. We arrive here with nothing, and unfortunately, we can’t take anything with us when we leave. Cut yourself some slack, have some fun, and tip the scales towards living life.
Everyday Is An Opportunity To Learn – You learn something new every day is true. This compounded over a lifetime is naturally going to lead to growth. Learning only one new thing every day isn’t particularly time-consuming, and so it gives us time to make the most of the shortness of life.
Change Your Mind Often – One way we can ensure we don’t stay stationary is to track when we change our mind. Challenge your existing beliefs by actively seeking out opposing arguments. Either way, you win, because this will either lead to you changing your mind and being more informed on the topic, or it will solidify your own beliefs. Both contribute to growth.
Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash Embrace The Different Versions Of Yourself – Courtesy of Sahil Bloom. There are many different versions of ourselves, some of which we don’t even understand. Consider the aspects of your life where you’re seeking growth. What would the ideal day of growth look like in this aspect of your life? How could you be the best version of yourself in this regard? Envision what this looks like and implement using character creation. Some of Sahil’s examples include the Morning Machine, who is emotionless and disciplined in his pursuit of goals. His “Dad of the Year” character is present both physically and mentally and cultivates deep relationships with those around him. Consider how characters could play a role in your life to show up in situations where you need a different version of yourself.
Routine With Buffer Zones For Unpredictable Life Occurrences and Rest Time – When we discover things that bring us purpose, it’s easy to constantly pursue this growth. This can damage the present if we’re always looking ahead to the next goal we want to achieve. Set up buffer zones that will inevitably be filled by unexpected events that arise every day and set aside free time for rest and socialisation. My rule is no work after 6 pm, ever.
Concluding Remarks
Marcus Aurelius also wrote in Meditations, “No one can lose either the past or the future – how could anyone be deprived of what he does not possess?”
If we tie our self-worth to our jobs or our money, we’ll become slaves to them. If we tie our self-worth to our dreams, our goals, or love within our relationships, we’ll be more present in every moment. I’ve found this to be key in my life to make the most of the blip of time that we’re present here on this big rock floating through the cosmos.
I wrote about living in the present last week in my post “The Longness of Life”. It’s a balance I struggle to maintain. I often don’t relax unless I’m with other people, especially if I’m within the vicinity of my desk at home. As always, I hope these lessons to myself, from myself, might help something sink in and help me live a more balanced life.
I always thought of journaling as tedious and unnecessary, because who am I to forget, right?? But for the sake of improving my handwriting, I continued, and now as I reread my entries, I still feel the emotions of the day as I had written it. That is the power of journaling. It not only brings the day back but the emotions as well :)
Love the point on focussing relationship that bring energy!