We are rational creatures. As we make our way through life, we are constantly rationalizing the world around us as. If your job makes you feel miserable, it’s natural to talk yourself out of quitting or looking for something better because even if you go home and cry yourself to sleep every night, you can rationalize that without this job you wouldn’t be able to pay your bills or buy groceries… and it’s too much work to look for something better anyways… and maybe this job isn’t so bad after all etc., etc.
The rational voice inside of our heads can be essential for our happiness, especially if we feel trapped by our current life circumstances. Unfortunately, this same little voice also makes it easy for us to consistently take the path of least resistance instead of putting ourselves out there, and prevents us from leaving our comfort zones when doing so might enrich our lives immensely. Why take a risk or try something new when we are doing just fine with things the way they are, right?
For most of us, most of the time, our rational voice keeps us following paths through life that society has decided are ‘safe and secure’. This path looks very similar for a most people: a practical education that leads to a stable job at a big company, a house in the suburbs, a long commute, marriage, kids, retirement, and eventually a golf club membership or a timeshare in Florida. I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with always taking the safe and secure option if that is what you truly want from life – but it could be true that people who always take the easy path will wake up one day and regret that they didn’t go after more of what they really wanted in life.
The core philosophy behind this blog is simple: if there is something you want out of life, you should pursue it (…just don’t be evil). I want to encourage you to take a real look at your life and any rationalizations that might be holding you back. Are there real, insurmountable obstacles in the way of your dreams, or are you making excuses because it feels safer to avoid taking any chances that might make your life uncomfortable?
I’m not interested in telling anyone how they should be living their life, and I certainly know that my own choices are not what’s best for everyone. I just know that it’s in our nature to rationalize and get locked into certain ways and patterns of thinking that might not be in our best interests, and sometimes we just need a bit of reflection and inspiration to overcome our mental barriers and seize those opportunities that can scare and excite us.
My hope in starting this blog is that my content might provoke that sense of adventure in you and help you to challenge your settled ways of thinking. We can always rationalize reasons not to do something, but with the right mindset rationalization is equally powerful in pushing us towards what we really want in life.
“Live with no regrets” might be cliché, but in the end, isn’t that what matters?
“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell