I think I may figured out the meaning of life. For real.

I think I may have figured out the meaning of life. Or at the very least an uplifting way to look at life when faced with challenges.
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It is part of human nature to label things. We all do it and it seems to be an essential requirement to make sense of the world around us.

When it comes to life, the “what do you do” question often attempts to label us in the context of the work we do.

I’ve written before on how to answer that question as an indie entrepreneur. But this week, I want to dive a bit more into the deeper meaning of the phrase “Trying is Being”.

In this article I want to use “What do you do?” as a way understand the reasons why you do what you do, so that you can do more the things you enjoy. And make your life and that of others, more enjoyable.
Because, philosophically, this question is really asking you how you are spending your time.

We are not our work

The problem with the “what do you do” question is usually answered within the assumed context of a profession: “I am a teacher/engineer/sales person, etc”.
There is nothing inheritly wrong with it, but it suggests a very strong connection between your identity and your work. Most of the time people answer it starting with “I am …”, not “I work as a…”

But, if I ask you if you are your work, you’ll probably answer “No, of course not”. Or something along those lines.

Outside of work, that answer is almost impossible to answer completely. I can’t list all the things I do, or am. And I am not any single one alone. In my case I am a father, a husband, musician, traveller and many more things.

Why does this matter?

Because that is how you spend your time. And finding ways to enjoy the passage of time is what life is about, I think. It can be done in so many ways. You learn what you like as you go through life, and yet it is the journey of a lifetime to figure out.

This is different for everyone, and changes with the different stages in life.
Along the way, there are many moments that are not enjoyable at all. We are all faced with struggles and challenges. Some of those we seek out ourselves, while others happen to us and we simply have to learn to deal with them.

Even in those challenging times, there are insights to be had, moments to be found that are enjoyable. Moments that can be cherished, shared and are fuel something good.

This too shall pass

On a universal scale, the chances of us being alive now are infinitesimally small. And even in the history of our species on earth, it is estimated that about 117 billion people have ever been born. About 8 billion are alive today.
To me, that is a uplifting perspective. In other words: This too shall pass.
Knowing that, I might as well learn to enjoy to very brief time. And joy is best experiened when shared, otherwise you’d be the villain in any movie: alone, angry, bitter, maybe rich but nobody to share it with.

How do you want to spend your time?

In life, we often get asked, “What do you do?” It’s a common way to define ourselves by our work. But we’re more than that. We’re made up of many roles and experiences.
When things get tough, remember there’s joy to be found in even the smallest moments. These moments are what make life meaningful.

We only have a short time here, so it’s important to ask ourselves, “How do I want to spend my time?” Focus on what matters to you and find ways to incorporate that into your daily life.

Ultimately, it’s not about the labels or titles we hold, but the love we share and the moments we cherish. So, embrace each day, live with sense of purpose, and spread kindness when you can.
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I think that’s what truly matters.
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You got this! 🙌
Arno