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It’s time for all of us to believe that every man can create the life they want to live.
Contrary to what many may think, there has never been a better time to be alive. We have the benefit of living at the culmination of thousands of years of history, with access to all the wisdom of the ages. And, thanks to the Internet, a person is no longer limited to the ideas found in their small corner of the world.
Here’s a concept I want you to consider: Just like there’s a technological “maker” revolution occurring today, now is the time for a “self-maker” revolution. Like no other time in history, we can design our lives to suit our callings, our passions, and the dreams that pull at our hearts.
Unlike any other point in the long story of our species, today we have easy access to the unimaginable wealth of several millennia of human thought and experience. We can pick and choose, mix and match, selecting what resonates from a vast array of philosophies, sciences, and other disciplines. Like a techie maker deciding on just the right parts to build an invention they envision, each of us can assemble a unique internal system of strong beliefs, perceptions, and purpose to best pursue the happiness we’re all chasing.
Call your life “designer,” “bespoke,” “curated,” “artisan,” or whatever. It doesn’t matter, as long as you live an intentional life. Pick what resonates for you, and forget the rest. As long as you are not violating the mind, body, or soul of other people in your pursuit of happiness, feel free to experiment with ideologies until you discover what works for you.
Unlearning the Lie of Limitation
For too long, we have fed ourselves the lie that there are limited paths (a.k.a. one “true” way) to happiness. We now know this is false. There are unlimited roads we can take, and each of us can craft our own destiny. The divisions between us crumble when we allow ourselves to let go of beliefs that limit us.
We are all free to try whatever we want. If we fail, then it’s time to move on and try another tactic. What’s important is that we keep trying, and don’t pressure ourselves with unnecessary self-flagellation for our failures. That’s counterproductive because failure is a vital part of finding success.
Every day, more and more men realize that purpose and meaning are things you make for ourselves, rather than wait for some miraculous event to show us the way to happiness. The first step is the choice to see yourself as the creator of your life, rather than a helpless castaway tossed around by the whims of circumstance.
Remember: happiness is best pursued indirectly. Don’t chase the nebulous idea of happiness, because true satisfaction is a byproduct of pursuing what makes you feel alive. When you stop worrying about happiness as a direct goal and treat it like a side effect of being true to yourself, you will pave the way for that happiness.
Practical Optimism
When it comes to the ancient riddle that asks “what is the meaning of life,” we now know the answer is “whatever we choose.” I’m not blindly optimistic here. I’m suggesting something utterly practical, the ultimate common sense.
In his book “The Maker Movement Manifesto,” Mark Hatch states that
making is fundamental to what it means to be human. We must make, create, and express ourselves to feel whole.
It’s a logical progression that this concept applies not only to our external creations but what we build inside ourselves as well.
In fact, our internal worlds are far more durable than anything we craft in the physical world. This was the lesson learned by psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. This man lost his entire family to the Nazi death camps, but chose to look ahead with hope for an end to his torment rather than succumb to the belief that his life was over. This choice allowed him to retain his will to live, while those around him who had let go of hope would almost always wither and die.
Frankl’s hard-learned lesson was that we can always control how we react to the world, even when external events are beyond our control. Retaining hope for a better future is vital to maintaining our motivation.
Make Possibilities, Not Comparisons
Remember, avoid making comparisons between your journey and the journeys of others. Each life is unique, and so is the meaning of each life. As Teddy Roosevelt said, comparison is the thief of joy.
Yes, you can take inspiration from the example of others, and use the accomplishments of others as motivation for some friendly competition. But allowing yourself to be envious is a sure-fire way to destroy your own capability to take action toward your goals.
For the sake of the self-maker revolution, I challenge you to:
- Get into the habit of a solution mindset, where the world is a place of possibilities rather than problems.
- Believe in constructive disruption and creative destruction. The status quo is not acceptable if it no longer serves you. Be prepared to tear down your preconceived notions and replace them with new beliefs that empower you.
- Shift your self-perception to serve your life instead of beating yourself down with doubt and harsh self-criticism.
- See the inevitable changes in life as challenges that make life interesting, and failure as a guide and teacher.
- Work out your mind, body, and soul equally. Don’t neglect the development of your inner resources. Study many different ideas, to gain many perspectives on the human condition.
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It doesn’t matter what foundation you use for your personal revolution: religion or atheism, philosophy, art, music, the labor of your hands, dedication to family or career…the list is infinite. The only thing that matters is finding the stability, confidence, and strength that comes from creating the meaning of our life for yourself.
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A version of this article was originally published at livethehero.com
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