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Stop Trying to Solve Your Life

You deserve to live. You deserve to be.

Thomas Oppong
Personal Growth
Published in
4 min read6 days ago

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Artwork: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734–1797)

I keep going back to this quote by author Oliver Burkeman every time I try to fix my life, “The day will never arrive when you finally have everything under control.” We all want to figure it out — the perfect career, the ideal relationship, the perfect routine.

But as Burkeman says, the day will never come when you are completely “optimized” as a person. Or you’ve got it all handled, every piece in place, no surprises left.

That’s never going to happen.

The good life is not an equation to solve.

Psychologist Carl Rogers explains it beautifully: “The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” Today we have abundant opportunities to utilize our strengths and passions, do things we enjoy, and connect with people we love. Tomorrow might bring a world of exciting new possibilities, but today, wherever we stand on our journey, can be an adventure in itself.”

You’re not supposed to reach some final, perfect destination — you’re supposed to just live. Experience every day as it comes.

One day at a time.

Aiming for “control” makes life more stressful. It’s called the illusion of control. We think we can manage…

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Personal Growth
Personal Growth

Published in Personal Growth

Practical wisdom for life drawn from philosophy, psychology, spirituality and personal experiences.

Thomas Oppong
Thomas Oppong

Written by Thomas Oppong

The wisdom of great minds. NEW: The little book on how to live in an age of collapse: https://perennialwisdom.gumroad.com/l/howtoliveinanageofcollapse

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