The path to Tranquility (spring)
39. Life is not an adventure game
Imagine standing at the foot of a steep mountain, looking up at the misty peak. Our heartbeats quicken, not only because of anticipation, but also because of the excitement of the unknown. Emotions rise and fall with the mountain, making life full of vitality and change. When emotions are high, the world seems full of possibilities; when emotions are low, life seems to fall into a trough, or even collapse. This fluctuation drives us to pursue excitement and challenges, but must the goals of life be built on such ups and downs?
Emotions are like the ebb and flow of the tide, affecting our choices and actions. When we are excited, we may bravely accept challenges; when we are afraid, we may choose to retreat. An angry word may destroy a relationship; an impulsive investment may result in losses. These ups and downs make people "feel alive", but they can hardly bring real satisfaction. Just like watching a wonderful performance, no matter how our emotions rise and fall, what remains in our hearts in the end are often only those plots related to value and meaning.
In a fulfilling life, emotions can enrich our daily experience, but if we let emotions dominate everything, our lives will not be safe and stable. It can be seen that we should make good use of emotions and transform them into a driving force for insight and growth, rather than the ultimate enjoyment of life. The wisdom of emotions lies in observing our emotions like observing a kaleidoscope, accepting them without criticism, exploring the reasons behind them, understanding our desires, and thus discovering our true needs.
This wisdom comes from rationality and awareness. It does not suppress emotions, but guides them with rationality. When we can understand the disappointment in ourselves behind anger and the desire for certainty in anxiety, we can understand ourselves more deeply and make beneficial choices. The true self will not be driven by emotions, but will remain aware of emotions and choose how to respond. This is like keeping a stable course in a storm. We need to have a stable core consciousness first.
Life is not an adventure game, but an art of managing risk. The choices we face every day - healthy diet, stable work, appropriate social interaction - are all about seeking a balance between safety and risk. Risk can be an enemy or a friend, and both contain opportunities. Starting a business, changing jobs, expressing oneself... these actions are accompanied by uncertainty, but they may also allow us to discover the potential of life and become a new self.
True courage is to act with focus after determining the value and cost of the risk; it is to strike a balance between excess and deficiency, neither timid nor reckless. The divers who entered the flooded cave to rescue the trapped teenagers were not seeking excitement, but out of responsibility and conscience. This reminds us that taking risks without a higher meaning is just arrogance and ignorance; having clear goals and values is the embodiment of courage. Timidity makes us stagnate, while recklessness may ruin our future. Finding a balance between the two is a sign of wisdom and maturity.
Our desire for stability and security is not a sign of weakness, but a pursuit of freedom and happiness. True satisfaction does not come from a short-term emotional high, but from deep creation and connection. Writing a book, spending time with family, and creating a beautiful environment are all meaningful ways of life that allow us to transcend the accumulation of emotions and lay a solid foundation for the continuation of consciousness.
Let go of the obsession of "living a wonderful life" and ask yourself: "What can I leave for the world?" This is a reflective attitude that allows us to understand our role in the story of our lives and find our true core. Stability is not stagnation, but gives us space to dig deep, love and create.
As long as we face life with awareness, courage and care, freedom and happiness will naturally emerge in our hearts. Learning to control the fluctuations of emotions and seeing them as the natural resonance of life rather than the goal to be pursued; choosing when to accept challenges and when to seek stability are all experiences of growth and awakening, and are also the key to understanding oneself and the world.
When we stand firmly at the foot of the mountain, we don't need to pursue the peak, nor do we need to fear the valley, because every step on the plain is of great significance. These brief moments, strung together into the blossoming of life, let us realize that the meaning of existence lies in the awareness of the reality of the world. Let emotions become the light and heat of life, cultivate more wisdom and courage, explore the boundless universe, and welcome every unknown opportunity.
38. The nature and objective definition of love
40. Caring about the needs and feelings of others
