The different facets of life

Since the dawn of time, humankind has always tried to make sense of the world. We have constantly questioned our existence, our purpose, and more importantly our life as a whole. However, as societies evolved from primitive foraging bands to today’s post-modern nation-state system, humans have undergone much experience and gathered enough knowledge to be able to generate syntheses and deductions that help adjust our lives accordingly. No single account, experience or synthesis, however, sums up the diverse domains of life holistically.

For biologists, life is a set of biological features distinguished from abiotic matter. In philosophy, emphasis is given to existence and reality. For a theist, life is a divinely commanded project ordained by a supernatural being. For an elite and aristocrat, it is about amassing more riches and power. For a labourer, the only thing he cares about is returning home with enough to feed his family. These varied experiences highlight that life has no inherent, inbuilt and innate meaning. Instead, humans, societies and individuals have created a purpose of living in line with perceptions accumulated over time. These perceptions originate from knowledge gathered through the five senses and filtered by beliefs, doctrines and values. An interestingly harsh aspect attached to this is that experiencing life isn’t inherently free. We pay to live. The payment could be in the form of failures, desperations, dejections, agonies or torment. Most of today’s ultra-materialistic people exaggerate this price as being extremely unbearable and hence end up in cursing life. Many others rightly understand the cost and assume hardships to be the rent one has to pay for experiencing the blessings of life. For them the phenomenological experience of life is the greatest of all gifts. For the former, life is a liability, a curse. Rather than braving different realities, they mourn the challenges coming their way. Their thoughts are so much engrossed with negative energy that tranquillity and serenity can hardly set in. They might ask: how can life be termed a priceless gift if it hardly favours the beholder? Why, despite being a gift, does it cause disdain and agony?

Firstly, it is about interconnectedness and social inter-dependence. Since human needs are connected and social life is wired in a complex web of social interplay, everything one wishes or work for might not materialise into reality. As our destinies are tied to those around us, the realisation of our wishes in line with our expectations might in many instances endanger the interests of others. Had it been otherwise, only a few would have been reigning supreme over the destiny of others. It is because of this that our life doesn’t always work in accordance with our wishes and aspirations.

Secondly, rejection of what we have and an unrealistic longing for what we don’t have dwindles the allure and charm of life. We hardly live in the moment. We barely own what we have at our disposal. We remain entangled in a nostalgic past and a utopian future. The events of the past occupy our present while the virtual idea of a perfect future encroaches on our thoughts, time and energy. This is where part of the answer lies — one cannot adore, appreciate and enjoy the current moment while being entrapped in a utopian future and a nostalgic past.

The remedy is in accepting the bitter reality that life and challenges are inextricably linked with. All humans face hardships. However, one can lessen the severity of trials by changing their perception. Rather than being preoccupied by hardships and pessimism, looking for a solution or a silver lining can indeed create some semblance of serenity and peace. Accepting the outcomes of wishes and efforts with gratitude and living in the moment can also help let go of regrets and grudges. Ultimately, we need to change the way we think about life.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2022.

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