Having nearly infinite pathways to pursue in life, how do we decide on what we want to do in the future? Let alone future, isn't it already hard enough to find out what we want now? So what do we (have to) consider to make our choices which are going to form our future, say, ten years from now? To what extent should the physical and mental abilities play a role? Is our future defined by what we are able to or what we want to?(*) Is it even foreseeable at all whether these choices will turn out to be reasonable? Or does it just sound comforting that we can make rational choices about our future even though we have no idea what the future will bring in years? Because otherwise, we have to admit that the choices we make now are actually not the best and the most suitable ones for our future; that would also mean we are actually incapable of having the full control of our lives.
(*) Can there be a difference between what we want and what we can? 1. If so, what kind of an impact would that have on a self-decision process regarding one's future? 2. If so but there should not be, should we put the blame on them for not knowing enough about themselves and for chasing rainbows? 3. And if not, why? Is it rather unlikely that one can live fully satisfied, if they are not pursuing the path, which happens to be the most suitable one (in the sense that it is limited by physical and mental abilities the least), from all the possible ones? Should we feel successful at what we do all the time? This would also raise the question: how much importance should we have to put on our egos?
I got a response expressing that making long term decisions is not about choosing the best path but insuring oneself against worst outcomes and one should always be prepared what the future can bring. So, say, it's always good to have a degree even if it someday turns out you don't actually need it. Because you can always quit, once you realize you don't need it.
ReplyDeleteBut what determines the worst possible outcome to be the worst? What is not good for us? Are we talking about having no job or no money? If so, why do we have to accept and fit into this standardized way of living (study-work-family etc.) which modern civilization imposes on us? Why do we have to talk about getting a bachelors degree? In a pragmatic sense it's clear that one has to earn money in order to live. But that fact alone does not give you many answers. One might ask as well how much money one has to earn. What I mean is, even with considering basic human needs (putting them into the equation limits the number of pathways one can choose), you have nearly infinite possibilities.
And also, I honestly don't think we can predict what is going to happen in 10-20 years. It's just easier to believe that we are able to make rational choices regarding our future. It's more efficient to feel like you have a full control over your life. Otherwise, we'll lose our minds end up doing nothing. And doing nothing is just a waste of time and life.
What I believe is that you give your life a meaning by making your own choices (I might be an existentialist) and other than that there is no meaning in life at all. You pursue paths and form your life so that you create a piece that is individual. But how should one choose these paths? I might end up being a homeless on the streets, or live in forests away from human contact or I might as well end up being a physicist. Who can tell me which choice is the better one? How can one distinguish between good or bad choices, rational or irrational choices? What is the separation based on? What values do we have to take into account while judging choices? Morality? Money? Happiness? Only in the latter case (physicist), you can feed your ego by feeling successful just because the society will agree that you contribute to civilization. But to what extent should we care what majority thinks? Doesn't the majority consist of people who just follow what is being told by the society itself without questioning anything? So why should we care at all? But again, without the appreciation of society you can not feed your ego. So how much importance should we put on our egos?
For me, ego is a frustrating psychological feature from which you can not free yourself. It shapes your way of thinking, your choices and your life for nothing. Ego makes you get addicted to appreciation of others, who have completely different experiences of life and way of thinking; yet one wants recognition and appreciation from them. So in this life of choices, which you have to give your own meaning, you are just hindered by unrelated thoughts and opinions and irrelevant people owing to your ego. It is already hard enough to shape our lives by making rational choices about our future (let alone future, it's hard enough for me to choose what I am going to eat from the menu in a restaurant), now we have to deal with our own ego too. That's just great!
Heyo panda-girl!
ReplyDeleteI wish there would be objective ultimate correct answers for your questions, but I believe eveyone can come up with their own subjective view on them. These are complicated questions, and I bet no-one can be sure of what they are pursuing is the best for them, the best of the bestest. People only feel that what they are doing is the best.
It is surely more satisfying if what you want to do is what you are able to do the best to. However even with this, questions pop up. How do we know what is the best we can do? You can't be sure about this either, because you simply can't try everything to see which one you are capable of doing the most.
Human mind evolves continuously, so do interests. Think about interests as a long rope in the length of your life. Your interests will change continuously as you grow, as you study, as you discover new things and I don't think you can actually limit this change.
It's also funny, that the more you put your time and energy in digging one field, the more likely you have chances to get disillusioned.
I have one thing to point out though, in whatever you do if your motivation is internal, you are more likely to be happy, satisfied, successful (pontentially money will follow that). External motivation which means doing things because others will be proud of you (e.g. family!) and always trying to living up to others expectations will not make you happy at the end of the day. (Research shows this)
So it is really important to realize why you are doing things and for what.
It's funny, one of my friend told me "you always want to "be" things. You want to be a "painter" because it sounds cool, but I don't think you are able to be a good painter." What he said made me sad, and I thought about it a lot. He was wrong! No-one can know such things for others. Even you can't know without trying it. Kids get socialized to think that they are good in prestigious career paths, in fields which are more likely to find jobs and make money. It's such a wrong approach, because with such bias in their minds about career paths, kids are guided to certain paths, and they cannot discover the less prestigious fields (which one of them could perhaps lead to the most satisfying life in terms of money and recognition.)