My Story: Make Believe
I would not presume to tell you what to believe in, presuming, of course, that you are a level-headed, reasonably intelligent adult who believes in science that can be proven and understands that happiness or a certain satisfaction in life cannot be achieved by living unjustly toward any other being on planet Earth. But even then, I would not try. However, I would urge you to believe in something, sooner than I did. A positive purpose and a guiding philosophy will give your life meaning and fulfillment.
Find a purpose in life, however small, as long as it is positive. Dedicate your life to improving the lives of your family or friends, helping a suffering species of animals, or saving the planet. Do what is important to you and what you can manage. Find something worth dedicating your life to—there is something out there; you just need to discover it. Do something positive that helps someone or something without harming anyone or anything. Find a set of positive guidelines that resonate with you to guide your everyday decisions.
Throughout humankind’s history, there have been countless men and women who have dedicated their lives to studying how to best live one’s life. Learn from Eastern and Western philosophers what behaviors are most beneficial to you and others, and how to make the right decisions when in doubt.
Create your own life philosophy. Learn from, or embrace, Stoicism, Buddhism, the Growth Mindset (from Psychology), Taoism, and Positive Psychology.
Yours,
John Honney