How Do You View Life?

view life

Do you see it as a constant string of responsibilities or as a plethora of opportunity? Do you feel crushed by the weight of it or enthralled by its wonders?

Most people walk through life with constant fears, doubts and a mindset of scarcity. They are afraid of losing their job, being lonely, failing, not knowing what the future holds, conflicts, embarrassments, making difficult decisions, being rejected and maybe even being successful.

That’s why people stay in bad relationships, soul-sucking jobs or never stand up for themselves. Basically, they’re terrified of life.

I used to be that way. Heck, I was raised this way. My parents brought me up to fear the looming future that was going to be darker than you could possibly imagine. Life seemed anything but grand and I was not particularly looking forward to living it.

I believed I was never good enough, the world was a competitive and harsh place and I’d have to fight an endless battle trying to get my tiny share of money, love and justice.

I went through school making straight As, skipping a class, thriving in every way, but still always terrified of failing. Teachers fueled my worries with the repeated mention that our grades would determine our future. I believed them. I knew I was going to have a job I loathed or at best tolerated but at least I would make good money in order to secure myself a safe spot in this horrible world of insecurity.

Well, that was until I completely lost it, dropped out of school because of a major depression and my raging eating disorder. Saying that I went through a huge identity crisis is an understatement. Life was so oppressive at this point that suicide seemed like my only option to find relief.

When that didn’t work out, I realized that dropping to such a low place gave me the chance to completely rebuild my future and evaluate what life is really all about.

It took me another 7 years or so to completely get it together, but those years of glueing the pieces of my life into a new shape were more rewarding than I can describe. Difficult, but necessary. I learned so many lessons, had so many eye-opening moments and realizations and I am sure that I will draw from them for a long time.

One of the biggest accomplishments for me was to let go off this notion that life is solely about paying the bills, having responsibilities and essentially going through the motions.

Sure, those things are part of it, but approaching every action and decision from this point of view limits your personal growth and overall life experience to a minimum. This is a mindset that is keeping people locked in one spot, functioning, but not living.

However, once you start seeing life as an adventure, everything changes. The possibilities and opportunities that unfold themselves in front of you seem endless.

The thrill of the unknown, of risks, of allowing yourself to fail knowing you’ll grow because of it is indescribable.

Once you stop taking everything so very seriously, seeing the world as your enemy and opportunities rare and hard to come by, you will feel your freedom, see the abundance and trust that you are and will be safe. You will see that there’s room for everybody to prosper.

You will believe in yourself and in your skills and you will put them to use for something meaningful and fun.

As so often, it takes a paradigm shift to fully grasp this principle of abundance, but once you do, it’s amazing how your view of the world and life changes.

I am glad I came to this realization. I have found a peace I never knew before and while I am confident that life will send me many surprises, challenges and obstacles, I know I will always be able to master them.

I am hoping you can come to the same conclusion whenever you’re ready to life to the full.

You owe it to yourself and you may even owe it to the world. After all, changing the way you look at life altogether may play a part in changing the world, even just a tiny little bit. I never thought I could do it, but here I am, helping men and women all over the world fight their eating disorders, body image issues and other areas in life. All because I started to believe, trust and hope that life, after all, is not a dance with a beast on a cliff, frightening and insecure, but a roller coaster with ups and downs and some loops, sometimes scary, but often fun. So, hop on that train with confidence and energy and get ready for, literally, the ride of your life.

Photo by Anne Puhlmann

44 thoughts on “How Do You View Life?”

  1. huh…much food for thought. thanks for writing this! wow…this small article has a lot of info and thoughts. O.O hrm…

    1. Hi Allison,

      take the time to digest it and read it several times. You’ll internalize it, I have no doubt. And one day without even really noticing it, you’ll implement some of the things you’v read.

      Hugs

  2. The thoughts shared by you can bring about a radical change in the sedate lives of many people who never considered thinking out of box. Really a thought provoking and inspiriting write-up. Thank you

    1. Hey there,

      yes, that was my intention. Sometimes we just have to be the ones who open other people’s eyes and make them get out of their routine to finally start to live. I used to be one of those people and the freedom I feel since I’ve made those mental changes is simply incredible.

      Where are you on this life-changing journey?

  3. Thank you very much for this blog. This is a message that I need to tell myself more. I realize that I do think about life sometimes in a limiting kind of way (e.g. most likely being stuck in a job I don’t like, always dealing with responsibilities), and forget that there are opportunities out there for me that I am very capable of getting. Very inspiring! =)

    1. Dear Alisa,

      unfortunately that’s how most people are brought up and trained to think, right? But you can always, always make a change and completely and radically make a cut with your limiting beliefs and actions and start anew. There are plenty of opportunities, you just have to grab one. :)

  4. Thanks for your nice blog. Although I am not very good at English but I always try to learn it. After reading your blog I thought you have wrote my story. I am very happy from your blog and will try to change my way of thinking. Thanks you very much for your lovely blog. Good bless you always. Sam

    1. Hi Sam,

      first of all, you’re English is great. BTW, I am not a native English speaker either… I know you can make the changes, just like I have and you will feel super proud of yourself and be forever grateful that you didn’t treat water and instead moved forward with your mental process and the way you go about life.

      Best of luck.

  5. Life is ok as long as you don’t waste your time listening to the media too much. Believe me I know it isn’t worth the bother. All they do is talk pointless stuff. I would instead limit your media input and try to stay healthy, have fun and have some interesting conversations.

  6. Thank you so much for writing this post and sharing your experiences with us! This is really inspiring! I went through most of the same stuff myself, but hadn’t yet been able to find the peace of mind you’re talking about. I’ve been struggling, but having read this, I know I’m on the right track. thank you!! :)

    1. Yay, Mimi, I am so thrilled to hear you’re on the right track. You should be proud of yourself and keep doing exactly what you’re doing. One step ahead of the other and never give up.

  7. In my small opinion, life is what you make of it.
    All the choices you do or make are basically an accumilation of where you have come from, the food you eat, the people who you work with and choose to be around and of course your family.

    It is a roller coaster ride of mixed emotions and feelings as well as pragmatic solutions to complex global issues which we are all confronted with on a day to day basis.

    There is enough to go around for everyone in this tiny little planet called earth, yet, we humans choose selfishness, jealousey and power and control as attributes to eternal success, when in reality real success is actually something far more significant and deeper than material wealth. May be it has something to do with forgiveness and acceptence and code, honour, respect, and of course commitment and honesty.
    This is not ‘profanity’ this is reality and this is something we must all share individual responsibity for, regardless of race, relgion greeed or whatever.
    To be pigion holed into a specific gender, class or group is effectively in itself patronizing, antagonistic, and stereotypical of variable groups of people who choose to control others through manipulation, and belief that they `own` them. But I beg to question who is the real controller?? The leader or the follower. Or, is it both?

    Here`s wishing everyone peace, health, prosperity and goodwill, for now and the future.

    Alan Parker
    Teacher and Creative
    :-))

  8. Thanks for reinforcing my beliefs about life. It is an adventure, and one to live every day.

    I do not know what I feel for those who do not see it as such. The power is within them to change, yet they chose not to.

    Tis all the journey, for the destination is known.

    jb

    1. John,

      you put it brilliantly. I think some people simply aren’t aware of their inner power or they choose to ignore it. I also believe it’s the environment you’ve been brought up in. My parents, for example, still cannot even begin to understand my way of thinking and it’s not like they’re not trying.

      Good for you that you’re on the side of freedom. :)

  9. “One of the biggest accomplishments for me was to let go off this notion that life is solely about paying the bills, having responsibilities and essentially going through the motions.”

    From your lips to God’s ears. That was my experience of life for the longest time until I woke up and created a life of my own liking.

  10. In my mid twenties I was struggling with addiction and paranoia. I made a choice. Since, I’ve gone back to school, got an M.A., written 100s of songs, traveled extensively, started a blog, published a book, and have a second book on the way. I know they say mental illness is genetic, but I believe we have the power to break free. I even had the added struggle of being in a cult when I was a child. That’s what my book is about. “A Train Called Forgiveness” follows Andy Burden through his late 20s while he journeys back into his past and into his future on a train. It’s available at Amazon. Learn more at http://www.danerickson.net.

    1. Hi Dan,

      wow, you’ve overcome quite a lot. Proud of you. Yes, I too struggled with many mental illnesses, but overcome them. Just like you I believe we all have a choice. It may not be easy, but if we’re persistent and willing, we can make it through anything.

      Your book sounds super interesting! What’s the second one about?

  11. I’m terrified of life and this article all the more defined it. I’m afraid to let go of relationships, jobs and people.. even though they’re not worth keeping. ..” notion that life is solely about paying the bills, having responsibilities and essentially going through the motions” describes me to a T. I guess realizing it is a good start. Thanks.

    1. Hey there,

      I am sorry you feel that way. I used to be absolutely the same, so I feel for you. But yes realizing is the first step and you will be able to work on it. I think you just have to work on your confidence.

  12. Ah! It’s wonderful to read a positive story, contrasted with the abundance of cynical blog posts about life that I usually come across.

    A lot of people forget that tomorrow brings a new day and they get so caught up in their own world and thoughts that they forget about the vast amount of opportunities and activities that are on offer every single day.

    Sometimes it feels like there’s a safety in negative thinking, which in a strange way there is. However, it’s superficial thinking that worrying is the easiest way through life. WORKING OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY DEVELOP YOURSELF.

    Have a great day!
    Joe

  13. Loved the post – very honest. Isn’t it interesting how the world wants to make us fearful either tthough education, our jobs or the media (all those bad news stories). I guess it means we have to work at getting our mindset right.

    1. Well, I guess it is all about making us feel bad in order to buy products that are supposed to make us smarter, healthier and more important… The media is quite evil that way. Yes, it’s up to us to change our mindset. :)

  14. Hey Anne…Your Blog helped me at the time i really needed it the most….Well It’s gonna be hard starting the battle of changes but having read your blog just inspires me to have the courage and determination….Thanks

  15. This was a very good read! I think it is very important for to tackle any problems you may face in your life, work towards a solution and reach your highest potential from then on. After all, you only live once.

    Be Blessed!

    1. Byron, yes, we only live once, but so many people live as if they’d be able to press repeat as many times as they’d like. It’s so important to live consciously and make the best out of every situation, no matter how dire the circumstances. Thanks for commenting.

  16. Hey, so I read your article and I see what you mean about life being full of wonder and amazing was but I was wondering… What if you did live life like that because I want to but it seems very difficult to think of life as just awesome. I love my life and I try to think of things as good but sometimes I just wonder is it really worth it to really think of life like its awesome when most people just don’t. Most people here are just reading this article and thinking wow this is so try but when in reality some things Arnt fun or amazing so, what I’m trying to say is if your saying life is so good why does sometimes it hurt so much that one can’t seem to bear it? Now I’m not emo or anything but yeah

    1. Hey random person :), I think the answer to your question is quite simple: do you want to live like most people or do you want to live happier, freer and simply more? Sure, you can go ahead and try to be negative about everything but you’ll only cause yourself more pain and frustration. Now, if you adapt a positive attitude (which doesn’t mean that there aren’t frustrating, painful and dark phases), your quality of life will only benefit.

  17. Comr. Joel Augustine

    Hello Anne-sophie,
    This this very inspiring, motivating and captivating. I feel relieved after reading this post. You will never run out of inspirational message, for the world we live if not inspired will definitely run dry of ideas. Remain bless

  18. Dear Anne Sophie,

    Your opinions on ‘Views On Life’ are captivating and awesome! I was just cruising myself on the Internet, with an aim leisurely finding for some interesting articles to read and contemplate on, and it was such a blessing that I found your blog site! This article really is an eye-opener for me to the various perspectives of life, as well as strengthen my belief in the truth that beholds in life.

    I was incredibly inspired when you had described your experience of having some troubles in comprehending and getting through your life, and how you had actually managed to push yourself up again to get the correct view of life as a whole.

    In conclusion, I just think it had made me understood life as a term on a much advanced level. Thank you. a

    1. So glad you enjoyed this piece and I hope that as a continued learner, you’ll be able to go through life differently now. Keep me updated on how it goes. I’d love to stay in touch.

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