Harut Posted November 13, 2003 Report Share Posted November 13, 2003 i'm not talking about the little things, an extra topping on pizza vs an ice-cream cone.i'm talking about issues with larger scope: family, career, nation, knowledge, humanity, personal pleasure, education, etc.as a young man, entering through the gates of life, i'm having a hard time setting forth my priorities of life.any comments/suggestions? do you think a well-worked-out balance can be achieved? do you think it should be achieved? if so, how well does it serve the purpose if you are not fully devoted to a certain aspect of the life? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted November 13, 2003 Report Share Posted November 13, 2003 (edited) Create yourself some value circles. No time to explain - but once you establish what values are important to you - and what values you want to live by, everything else falls into place. Instead of concentrating on WHAT you want (material things), and WHAT you want to do (job, career), concentrate on HOW you want to live, and WHO you want to be. Sorry for my brevity - I'll post again later on this.... Edited November 13, 2003 by vava Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THOTH Posted November 13, 2003 Report Share Posted November 13, 2003 Harut - by definition these have to be very personal and unique to you...it is all dependent on what you value. Is it raising a family and having childen, being succesful at work (and of course provifding well for a family), having a job etc that makes some sort of difference - like helping the sick, or cleaning up the environment etc etc, adventure and travel, Climbing the tallest peaks of the earth, swimming accross the English channel or finishing a marathoin - etc etc - different for everyone. I always wanted to see and experience new things - was interested in archeology/ancient civilizations (so traveld to see such etc), wanted to do certain types of work that I thought was important, wanted a family, wanted us to be comfortable, and wanted to pursue all types of hobby interests/sports and such...and just to be happy and enjoy life -= all of it - as it unfolded - not always with so muchof a aplan - but to take it as it came... Any help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiner Posted November 13, 2003 Report Share Posted November 13, 2003 (edited) Harut,You don't have to make such a great conscious effort in setting your priorities just yet. Along the way they will come to you naturally, based on your experiences and how your life unfolds. Right now you can just have the motto "I still don't know exactly what I'm gonna do, I'm taking it day by day". As long as you don't do anything too messed up, you will learn, develop, and become whoever you will become. If you are still in college you still have time. Maybe there are those around you who say they want to get married, or they want to go to law school, or they want to own some business, or travel. But everybody's different. They're plans will not necessarily work out. Many follow one path only to change themselves later. Even though they act all convinced they are not sure either. Some feel they need to do certain things to uphold a certain image, etc. The only thing you can do right now in my opinion, is expose yourself to as many different environments, people, things, etc as possible. Give yourself as much of a chance as you can to see things with your own eyes, and experience them on your own. Then you don't have to count on other people's opinions to form yours, and I think this is very important in this society. Try to be as open minded as you can through the process. Edited November 13, 2003 by shiner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormig Posted November 13, 2003 Report Share Posted November 13, 2003 I've been doing the "take day at a time" and "let the current flow" for years - and the more I do it the better it seems to be. I haven't been trying to give some things direction - and I have ended up being given some wonderful opportunities in life, one in particular being just about unique in the world - no exaggeration whatsoever - and I am not even talking about work, I'm talking about something that I feel I am better for, for having completed, and which I will remember with satisfaction when in my deathbed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harut Posted November 14, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2003 thanks for the responses.i'm doing a little pondering... will probably write more.though, more responses would be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angel4hope Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 here's a good quote that i think is inspirational:i can do al things through christ which strengthens me. the road to success is not straight, there is a curve called failure, a loop called confusion, speed bumps called friends, red lights called enemies, and caution lights called family. you will have flatts called jobs, but if you have a spare called determination, an engine called preseverance, insurance called faith, and a driver called jesus, you will make it to a place called success! maintaining balance is one of the struggles in life- whether it be mental, emotional, or physical-homeostatic balances- its also one of the problems in nature-thats why we have earthquakes, rain, snow, heat-either as consequences of maintaining balance or in the process of doing so....also true when observing chaemicals- for instance if an electron is taken away from a chemical-like sodium- the chemical becomes unbalanced or even radioactive and seeks balance by maintaining an electron from another atom by shareing or other methods--- my point being, its not something that you as an individual is going through, its just how the world is set up-there are disturbances and negativities that have to be overcome--balanced, but what fun would life be if we were handed everything eith no struggle or effort---but if you go through it with a positive outlook and put in all your effort-all may be well............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accelerated Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 "What does your conscience say? - You shall become what you are" - Nietzche Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasun Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 One advice I have figured out is right - nothing is too important in this life to achieve, to become, to have, to win, etc ... just be yourself and don't plan too much. As long as one has peace of mind and a clear conscience everything should be fine. (I think this thread is closely related to the 'happiness' thread, probably the question is "what should be ones priorities in order to be happy?") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted November 16, 2003 Report Share Posted November 16, 2003 I have a strange suspicions, judging by the recent posts, that many here have a more fatalist attitude towards life. Ie. 'Let things be, and they will happen - everything will take care of itself'. That's incorrect people! NOTHING will happen, unless you MAKE it happen. You need at least 3 things to 'achieve' in this world:1. goals2. focus3. persistance/perseveranceand if you have some innate intelligence/intuition it certainly doesn't hurt. Now to speak of what to 'get' or what 'goals' to have and to prioritise in order to be happy - I mentioned very briefly above - you have to be in tune with your values. Ex. 'I wanna have money' is NOT a value - you may value wealth (perhaps more than anything else) but why? Would it be to provide for your family? Have a nice place of residence? For security? In the first case, 'Family' would figure amongst your values in your 'value circle' - in the latter case 'Security' would fit in your value circle . You may also value the freedom/time to travel and see the world - 'Freedom' would also figure into your value circle. Choose 4 or 5 values to place in your cirlce, (since it's very difficult to focus on more) and whenever you have a decision to make that impacts your life's direction, consult your value circle - and things become much more clear. Why a circle? Simply because it's not hierarchical - one value shouldn't have more weight than another. It takes a combination of 'values' to build the type of life you wish to follow. When thinking about your 'values' think about the things that matter most to you - try not to focus on (material) things you want, but more the life you want to lead, and the person you wish to be. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiner Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 You definitely need the 3 things you mentioned. It is important to have goals, so that you can work towards them. In the process you have to make sure your work is amounting to something. But to have the focus and perseverence these goals must be heartfelt, you must have that inner drive. So you really can't let others set those goals for you, or you can't copy other people. You must have your own, and these arise from the way your daily life unfolds. It's true there are some who never develop any. This is not good. I guess eventually you should make a more conscious effort, but while young you can let things arise as long as you have the overall desire to accomplish something. The important thing is exposing yourself to a wide range of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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