Tag Archives: meaning of life

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Keep on Dreaming

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As a reader pointed out to me, yesterday’s post contemplated just one of a plethora of explanations of dreams.  Two of the more accepted explanations being those of psychiatrists Freud and Jung.

Very simply summarized, Freud proposes dreams as being a subconscious expression of how we wished things had gone in reality.  Jung suggested dreams represent teaching archetypes that have things to teach us about our present circumstances.

Stretch Your Imagination

The discussion of dreams and the possibilities they represent led me to stretch my thinking on the topic beyond the limited suggestions restricted by the boundaries of life as we perceive it.

I wonder about a science fiction explanation, maybe actual more fantasy as I am not sure of the science part.  What if dreams were invented by a far superior intellect to ours as an experiment.

Fact or Fiction

It is possible others have had this idea first but I have not yet found any literature about it although some similar concepts, (e.g., superior races invented human kind) are prevalent in science fiction.

Perhaps dreams were developed as a research exercise in the laboratory and got out of hand, escaped the confines of experimentation and became an all consuming reality overcoming the base existance of the creators.  An experiment gone wrong.

Living Your Dreams

I can imagine living is a dream created by my forebears as an accidental outcome of intellectual research.  In this explanation dreams were developed as an opportunity for improvement of current reality.

In this reality  I would modify Sarte’s explanation of existence to “I dream, therefore I am”.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

The mysteries of life

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I heard a radio announcer today state their is not enough mystery in life.  This was in reference to a Bruce Springsteen song I did not catch the title of.

I am puzzled though.  For me life is an eternal mystery for which we have questions, then find answers followed by more questions and hopefully more answers.

The Purpose for Existence

The first and most basic part of human life that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain, at least with absolute confidence is the meaning of life.

That is, what is meant when we say we are living our lives.  Is there a defined purpose, can we choose any lifestyle, are goals and objectives open to our choosing or is there some commonality expected of the human race.

The Origin Story

Whether the human race evolved naturally, or was created by some powerful sentient being or as a result of the myriad of combinatory possibilities based on these core suppositions, is just not known.  I personally view it as an intriguing mystery.

The basic mystery of why a particular person was born at a specific time can be explained many ways but not proven absolutely, the mystery remains.

The question of finite or infinite life and the associated possibilities do not only fascinate me but also  I wonder if that mystery will ever be answered.

Not Enough Mystery in Life

And so the context of the radio announcers and Bruces contemplation on seeking greater mystery within our lives eludes me.

My life has an abundance of mystery for which I am truly thankful.  I believe in and of itself these mystery’s provide a solid reason to live and thrive seeking first the questions and then the answers.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Ikigai

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The oldest people in the world live in Okinawa Japan.  Studies seeking the reason for this longevity have not been conclusive. In reality, it is probably a combination of things.

One theory is longer lives are simply obtained through the practice of ikigai (roughly translated to “reason for being”).   This is not the meaning of life but rather a very personal internal connection to your own purpose.  Ikigai starts with you.

Retire and Die

I was discussing retirement in general with my son-in-law recently when he commented, “retire and die”.  His intent was to highlight the fact when you retire there is a real possibility your ikigai will be diminished or perhaps disappear entirely.

Often many of us focus on jobs through our lives, until we retire.  Without the job, which probably was our primary reason for being to that point, we need to refocus.

Life focus is not just on activities like golfing, bridge, hiking and so on but needs an underlying purpose to give meaning.  For example,  living on in order to meet your great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and so on.

This goal is not just about the activity of “meeting” someone but rather has a truly emotional and meaningful aspect.  The rationale for meeting your grandchildren is as much for them as it is for you.  It is not just about satisfying a personal emotional desire.

Live Long and Prosper

Longevity can be supported by prosperity.  That is being in a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition.  Purpose is the underpinning of prosperity.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Our mission in Life

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Two of my favorite rock songs from the early seventies both proclaimed simple straightforward views about life and death.

They are:

“Born to Die” – Grand Funk Railroad

“Killing yourself to live” – Black Sabbath

For a young adult, these simplistic chorus lines from the songs (basically just the title sung in harmony), sung over a basic driving hard rock beat,  were the golden truth.

Philosophically, this was the answer – our mission in life was to die and everything we did was in support of that mission, ( i.e., we are living to die and everything we do while alive is a step toward death – killing ourselves)

Experience and Maturity Change Perspective

“As the years go by” (another great song by a Canadian band – Mashmakan) I  grew to understand there is far more purpose to our lives than just surviving until we die.  In essence though, I believe for each of us our mission is individual and set by us.  Personal accountability is a common thread for me throughout my various posts.  I live my own life with that value at the forefront.

Everything we do as we traverse through time,  creates our legacy and it is how we behave that will guide how we are remembered, if at all.

The Magical Meaning of Life

You often read and hear the question asked  “Why am I here?  and the famous  What is the meaning of life?  (Unfortunately, only Monty Python knows the answer to that question).

Simply stated, you and only you can define your purpose and the meaning of your life.   And, you and only you can measure yourself against that meaning and purpose.