Jul. 15, 2023
Read time: 3 minutes and 54 seconds.
tags:Be the main character, not an NPC.
Most people are taught that if you follow the rules, you’ll be fine. Study hard so you can get that job. Work hard at the job so you can get promoted or get an even better job. Work a job and work a job so you can get a nice pension. Once you’ve got that pension, you can really live life when you’re 65+. However, you might be like a sheep, losing sight of what truly matters to you. Choosing to suffer now might be the only way to unlock real freedom later. We are in a new world economy that has unlocked a lot in terms of earning potential and flexibility in sources of income.
Many people claim they’re “fine,” but are they really living? Going through the motions isn’t the same as truly thriving in life.People will tell you that they’re good, they’re fine. Maybe they are. But they might not be so fine when they’re exhausted from the same monotony of their daily lives and the comfort that they’ve established. Many 65-year-olds aren’t financially comfortable and have to go back to the work force to have a little cushion for earnings, or even becaus they’re not really sure what they want to do with themselves in their old age. With the structure of the current system, it doesn’t easily allow for freedom. Following rules blindly can lead to a loss of self and a lack of clear purpose.
True growth comes from facing challenges head-on and being able to handle adversity on an ongoing basis.
Modern life is full of instant gratification, which can lead to a shallow existence. I mean, it’s really great to have these modern luxuries, but they’re not something that adds quality of life to oneself. Instead, it becomes a vicious cycle of repetition and similar days that blend into decades of mediocrity. I’ve seen friends get stuck in this cycle, and it’s tough to watch. They expect you to adopt the same patterns of behaviour so that they’re not left out from your ambitious pursuits to improve your own life. Think about the things that didn’t exist like 30 years ago:
Suffering is inevitable, but you can choose when and how you face it. Suffering upfront can lead to rewards and appreciation. Being handed everything stifles development and can hurt you in the long run. It’s strange, but something that has come up time and again among my circle of friends where they talk about their regrets or the things which they wish they had done. Like, i’m 30 and I have no regrets. So I’m not sure what i’m doing differently or the point I am missing that I see in the waking lives around me. I don’t go out of my way to live hard, but I deal with suffering head on instead of giving myself the easy out for convenience. Taking a difficult approach allows one to develop character, work ethic, and discipline that unlocks true freedom.
Embracing suffering allows you to learn, evolve, and take control. And I think this has had an effect on how much control I have felt on my life. I don’t have these regrets because I’ve been okay and comfortable making the mistakes I’ve made and I have owned my poor decisions and my good decisions alike.
The comforts of life will funnel you into being an NPC (non-player character) in your own life. And are you going to watch the story unfold for someone else or yourself?
Make conscious decisions instead of accepting what others tell you. It’s okay to make mistakes and really, it’s okay to suffer in the process of your life. Besides just character, it helps refine and mold you into a person of value and qualities likeable by others. And it’s the truest form of freedom; making the good and bad decisions alike. By choosing to face challenges now, you set yourself up for a more fulfilling life later because of the stories you can tell and the wisdom you’ve cultivated from the very first day that you decided to take control of your life.