You just go through the day and feel as if you cannot change your life for the better?
Everything has been decided for you and you have no choice in what you do, wear or say?
Most days can feel like that.
You feel like you are drifting aimlessly through life.
Then there are those who wake up with a new type of buzz every morning, almost like a surge of energy has given them a powerful jolt for the day. They have things they look forward to and they do not know what is going to happen to them in the future nor do they have a care in the world, now these are the type of people who do not merely exist, but are also full of life..
Living vs. Existing
I think the biggest distinction between living and existing comes from how much control you have over life decisions.
Where do you see control coming from?
In general, someone who exists feels as if everything is outside of their control while someone living knows they determine the path their lives take…
Emotions have a big role to play in this. Someone who merely exists lets their emotions such as fear and anger dictate what they can and cannot do. Someone who is living understands these emotions, controls them and they do not let those emotions interfere with their decisions.
Someone who exists would stay in the same dead-end job for years despite being unsatisfied and unhappy. Their fears have trapped them and they have no plans of getting out. They have lost hope and just mindlessly go through the day in order to maintain the status quo.
But it goes much further than a job and salary. Someone who lets their fears control them will not take other actions that would improve their lives. They stay in relationships they do not like, never do things on their bucket/wish list and always put their dreams on hold.
People who simply exist exercise the same boring routine every day even though they do not really like it. They do not take any chances on improving their lives just so they can maintain their current comfortable lifestyle. This is because they are unable to take control of their decisions.
How to Stop Existing and Start Living
So how would you even know if you are someone who exists or lives?
Try this every morning, wake up each morning, look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself the same question, “If I was to die today, would I do what I am about to do?” If your answer is no too many days in a row, you need to make a change…
I think this is a good starting point especially for figuring out if you are just settling for just being an amateur…
If you are not getting excited or happy most days with what you are going to do, you need to take action and change something. This goes for every area of your life
Your attitude will change when describing, “someone who is living”…
You will not be content with doing a routine simply because you have done it the day before…
You will have to keep finding something that is meaningful to you and that brings you joy…
Otherwise you stop getting up in the morning because you want to and you start getting up because it becomes an obligation…
Once you know what you want to change, you will have to confront those fears holding you back and remind yourself that a change is now compulsory….
I realize this can be a scary process, I went through something similar… Many years ago I had a job I did not like. It was not horrible, but after several months of work I realized I had started going there only because of habit and not because I liked the work itself…
I knew I needed a change so after losing my dad I quit…
I had searched for other forms of employment, but still nothing that satisfied me….
It was really scary at first, but I knew quitting was the right thing to do. Today, I am glad I made the decision.
Be in Control of Your Life
In the end, you need to be the one making the decisions for your life. Nothing should tell you what to do, even your fears and doubts. If you have not already, you need to take back control and make life meaningful for yourself once again.
I know it can be easy to get stuck doing something because it is comfortable and has become habitual…
Do you think you are living or existing?
Are there things you have become comfortable with and need to change?
