Category: human experience

You must observe from the audience

We are always with ourselves, so it’s natural to view our lives from the first person perspective, as the main character. This is an egocentric position, leading us to see the world as happening to us, or for us. If we believe the narrative that we generate from this view, we become easily irritated when other characters don’t fit into the plot.

To fully understand our experiences, we need to step back and observe our lives from the audience, as if it were playing on screen. From there we have a better perspective on how all of the characters relate, their influence on each other and the natural world. This is an important technique to hold ourselves accountable for the stories we tell. To optimize well-being, our stories must seek the truth, which cannot be found in the point of view of a single person, even if that person is ‘I’.

Be well.

Experience is your only possession

Your only true possession is your human experience. It is the only thing that cannot be taken from you. Everything outside of you exists merely because you experience it. This experience is uniquely your own. It will never be entirely accessible to another, nor theirs to you.

Understanding this simplifies matters. For to optimize well-being, all you must do is design a life that allows you to experience more of it. Easily stated, but hard-won.

The next inquiry necessarily becomes, then, how to define experience. Experience is fluid, refreshing itself as each moment arises. It is fully formed by your feelings and stories. This combination of feelings and narrative characterizes your life.

Fortunately, your stories can be edited and your feelings can be challenged, allowing you to shape your future experiences. Being aware of this is a critical step on the path to well-being.