Life Is Hardly Predictable.
“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” — Frank Lloyd Wright
In the 1996 movie Jack, the lead character played by the late Robin Williams announces at his graduation: “Please, don’t worry so much. Because in the end none of us has very long on this earth. Life is fleeting. And if you’re ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety night. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day, make a wish, and think of me. Make your life spectacular.” There is something memorable about that passage that drives deep into our hearts. True to his words, Robin Williams lived a remarkable life equalled with an illustrious career. This is not a surmise on the late actor, rather an invitation to: “Make your life spectacular.”
The art of living beautifully is a call to know thyself without exception. Otherwise, we are at the mercy of external events which disrupt the foundations of our inner life. To know oneself means to align with our Authentic Self. Regretfully, many people seldom explore the complexity of their emotional constitution until it’s too late. A life of beauty arises when we move beyond our fixed reality and dare to explore the life we dream possible. It means to live fearlessly, beyond the walls of a comfortable existence. Is this something that appeals to you? To live a beautiful life means to transform disempowering states into positive life experiences. It’s no secret that life events can scar us, leaving us vulnerable. We cease taking risks for fear of getting hurt. While universal, the drawback is to retreat without ever reaching for the treasures we long for.
One of the greatest minds of our century, Albert Einstein once said: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” I urge you to explore this sentiment by trusting in the mysterious where the seeds of opportunity lie. Life is hardly predictable. Like torrential rain on a sultry night, when change ushers through, it can leave a deluge of uncertainty in its wake. For that reason, we must consider our problems as an alluring adventure instead of a melting pot of frustration. While challenging, a change in perception allows us to appreciate difficult moments to cultivate our personal growth. We must be mindful of these opportunities as they arise, rather than concede life is devoid of wonderful moments.
Miracles Come In Moments
“All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.” — John Wooden
Most people strive for happiness, so much so that bookshelves are littered with advice proclaiming the secret to attain happiness in thirty days or less. Yet research shows we are less happy than in the past. Maybe technology is to blame for creating insincere connections devoid of social interactions. To be in service of others is a way out of the unhappiness trap. It is not a transitory practice either, rather an opportunity to deepen our connection with ourselves. Clearly, we know happiness is not tied to owning the latest smartphone or sports car. While the advice seems obvious, many people fill the emptiness within by amassing material objects. This creates more desires and if we have limited financial resources, it creates further pain and suffering. I assure you, no material object will complete you more than what lies deep within your soul.
To live beautifully means to live according to our highest values. In doing so, we form meaningful connections with others that enrich our life. Likewise, we must avoid perceiving life as a sequence of daily routines and events which pass by at the blink of an eye. If we subscribe to this erroneous thinking, we succumb to the monotony of living a Groundhog Day existence. Miracles take place right before our eyes. We miss them because we rush about our day scurrying to the next event or trying to meet deadlines. The late American self-help author Dr.Wayne Dyer believed: “Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing.” Miracles cannot be experienced by analysing the past or future, for they will pass us by like a high-speed train if we are unaware.
This is why we must stop processing thoughts and move into our heart, the source of all wisdom where our soul calls home. Similarly, a beautiful life calls us to recognise what is of value to us. One way to experience beauty is to stop, listen, and connect with our surroundings. This means to slow to the speed of life instead of running around like the mad hatter in Alice in Wonderland, hoping to get everything done yet achieving little. To be present in the moment is challenging because life pulls us in different directions. Before long, we succumb to external forces instead of abiding by our inner blueprint. Similarly, we ought to let go of unnecessary stressors that are not tied to our long-term happiness.
Unwelcomed stress affects our capacity to enjoy life because we react to events, instead of allowing them to pass through our lives. Visualise a boxer backed into the ropes, battling punches from his opponent. He is unable to move into an offensive stance because he is stuck in that position. Life has that effect because we are pushed and pulled to our limits and retreat in resignation. Sure enough, the next blow arrives stronger than before and if our guard is down, we’re knocked to the ground harder than before. It was William Wallace who declares to the Princess Of Wales in the epic motion picture Braveheart: “Every man dies, not every man really lives.” To live a beautiful life is an invitation to live passionately while we still have every chance.
Originally published at The Medium