Life or Living: Stop living a false narrative

Life is the time we have on the planet. Living is the ability to enjoy the time we have. To make the most of it. But there is a common misconception.

To focus on life comes at the cost of living.

Allow me to explain. The human brain thinks in concepts. Money, for example, is a concept. It does not really exist. It only does because we say it does.

So if you take a concept and create a false narrative around it, soon enough everyone will subscribe to it. It has been done more often that you think.

Growing up, I learnt the concept of brain or brawn. Either you were brainy or you were brawny, as though they were mutually exclusive.

Similarly, life and living have become seemingly opposing concepts.

What is the point of life if you are not living?

But of course, what is left open is the definition of living. The openness allows anyone with a marketing budget to come and fill up the vacuum.

So a cola company can define happiness. It happens when you open their can. An alcohol company can define joy. It happens when you have half a bottle of their good stuff inside you.

For how else could you lose your inhibition?

For most of us, buffeted by life and stress, it takes too much of an effort to parse truth from fiction. Not to mention that the fiction is made a part of our consciousness every second. We even voluntarily give up our data to allow it to happen.

But it is a false narrative.

Life does not require sacrifices. Living does not mean to lose yourself completely.

It just needs you to be less distracted and more aware of the choices you are making. Thinking even for a brief moment will allow you to find your own balance.

One that balances life and living in your own unique way.

One that you do not need to justify to anyone else.

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain