Are You Just Alive or Truly Living? Discover the Difference
Being alive is a given, and truly living is an add-on. We all exist: we live, breathe, and go about our lives mechanically—that is being alive. Truly living is living each moment to the fullest. How we live our lives defines whether it is “being alive” or “truly living.” Being alive is a basic state, and truly living is making the most of our lives.
“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience”- Eleanor Roosevelt.
What is being alive
Being alive means breathing, going about our lives, and sustaining ourselves. It is the various motions we go through in our lives: education, employment, making a family, wasting time on social media, watching TV—a dull life.
It is the mundane routine we follow in our lives where every day feels the same. Waking up, going to work, returning home, having dinner, watching TV, sleeping, day in and day out, is known as “autopilot living” as per Psychology. This occurs when the brain is unable to actively engage in your activities/experiences, as all the activities/experiences seem routine.
Ever felt that all you look forward to is the weekend, which, somehow, is gone in a flash, and it’s Monday! This is known as “destination addiction” as per psychologists, where you are always looking forward to upcoming holidays rather than enjoying the present moment. What?? You do not remember the last time you let your hair down and enjoyed an evening with friends?
If you feel emotionally drained the entire time, this is known as chronic fatigue, which soon becomes chronic stress, affecting our nervous system and draining our emotions.
If you feel disconnected in your relationships, this means you are unable to make time for them owing to the overload of your responsibilities.
If there is no element of enthusiasm or excitement about the future, even a small hope of anticipation in your life, your life becomes predictable. You cannot see any scope of change or growth.
If you are surviving/existing for the sake of living, and keep worrying about the future or thinking of the past, this is known as “mind-wandering” as per Psychologists.
If you feel that your “real life” will begin later, after you get that promotion or purchase that villa, you are mistaken. In such a case, your life is something you are awaiting rather than experiencing it now.
What is truly living
Truly living is the risk factor, the adventure of exploring, the simple joys of life, enjoying family time, pursuing your hobbies, knowing your inner self, helping others, and making and living your life to the fullest. It is finding the meaning of life and its purpose, thereby making a positive impact. Truly living is living consciously in each moment; look for opportunities; chasing your dreams and fulfilling them; the joy of relationships; the experience of sadness, failure and rising like a phoenix; the thudding heart beat while trying some scuba diving; the sorrow of losing a loved one; the excitement of feeling the snowflakes; being present in every moment; being aware of everything around you; moving out of your comfort zone, enjoying non-materialistic pleasure.
Research has shown that engaging in activities like playing simple games, hobbies, adventure activities, is good at lowering stress, improving mental health and enhancing cognitive functions, as age progresses. As we navigate life through its ups and downs, let us learn to truly live.
Being alive v/s Truly living
Let us see the ways in which we can truly live our lives to their fullest and make them more meaningful.
1. Thinking
- Being alive: Being alive is when you are living in a fixed environment with the fear of embracing change. Not taking up new challenges due to fear of failure and a lack of self-confidence, thereby limiting personal growth. You have accepted that this is your life and you are not thinking of anything other than living, as you are, till you die.
- Truly living: Truly living is when you are open to embracing change, facing new challenges, and evolving. You have accepted that life is full of surprises and challenges, and you are ready for all of them. This helps in your personal growth, and you want to enjoy each moment till you die.
2. Let go
- Being alive: Being alive is when you find it difficult to let go of certain mindsets, feelings, people, possessions and hold on to them for dear life. You are unknowingly holding on to them in spite of them causing you hurt/ fear. You are too habituated to living in such hurt and fear that you cannot just let go.
- Truly living: Truly living is when you let go of the mindsets, feelings, people, possessions, that are doing more harm than good. You can easily remove them from your life. It may hurt a bit to get accustomed to, but it will be worth the effort. It will pave the way for positivity and growth in your life, be it in terms of relationships or career.
3. Mindfulness
- Being alive: Being alive is when you have a packed schedule and are scurrying about the day, like a robot. You automatically go through all your tasks/schedules, without much time to relax and unwind. You are mindlessly gorging on food, scrolling your mobile or completing mindless chores.
- Truly living: Truly living is when you are mindful of all that you do. Be it cooking/ eating/chores. Being present in the moment so that you can enjoy your food/chores is mindfulness. Make the chores fun so that you look forward to completing them. Chew your food well and attentively, and keep the digital devices away, the TV off.
4. Purpose
- Being alive: Being alive, you are just existing without any sense of purpose whatsoever. You are going through one day at a time, as time goes by. You are content with the mundane and unaware that life has a purpose.
- Truly living: Truly living is when you find a sense of purpose in life, to achieve something, something that makes you want to give your best. Something that will help others and the community.
5. Comfort zone
- Being alive: Being alive is when you are content in your comfort zone and your passive life. You settle for the mediocre and are satisfied with it.
- Truly living: Truly living is when you readily move outside your comfort zone and have an active life. You want the best for yourself and will work with dedication and diligence towards achieving it, irrespective of the setbacks that come your way. You welcome such setbacks.
6. Inter-personal relationships
- Being alive: Being alive is when you may be in relationships that you cannot spare time for, or ones that are toxic or overbearing, or draining you emotionally. You prefer to stay in them as you cannot make time or fear ending them. These relationships can have a negative influence on you.
- Truly living: Truly living is when you remove such toxic/negative relationships from your life and seek positive and like-minded influences. This is for your peace of mind and positive personal growth.
7. Emotional wellness
- Being alive: Being alive is when you experience emotional numbness, apathy, and negativity in your life. You find it difficult to let go of these emotions as you are so used to living like this now.
- Truly living: Truly living is when you are not afraid to face all your emotions. You acknowledge the times you have faced adverse emotions and are confident that you can reverse and overcome them.
From being alive to truly living
Every individual lives their life according to their circumstances and means. They need to seek out what works for them and what does not. Here are some changes we can make to gradually move from “being alive” to “truly living”
- Discovering yourself: Think about your passions, goals and values. This will give you a better perspective of what and how you want to proceed towards achieving them.
- Intentions: Set your intentions – charting out the path you have to follow with a sense of focus, dedication, and determination.
- Action: Act now, as the time is now. Circumstances and times keep changing, and we will be foolish to wait for the right time. The time you act is the right time. Just do it! One step at a time.
- Growth: Seize the opportunity and welcome growth. Update your existing skills, learn new skills, challenge yourself, move out of your comfort zone and see how you grow and grow.
- Connections: Allow those who positively influence and support you in your life. Build such positive connections for growth and remove negative connections which hamper your life and growth.
- Gratitude: Express gratitude for all that you have. You will be surprised to know that what you have greatly outnumber what you do not have. Do not believe it? Try it – express your gratitude i.e. say thank you – to any 50 things in your life: your breath, your body, your sense, your intellect, your strength, your health, your home, your job, your family, your friends, your vehicle, your mobile, your laptop, the electricity, the WIFI, the water, the sunlight, the breeze, the rain, the snow … etc. etc. I am sure the list will exceed 50 things. 😊
- Say no: Learn to say no to tasks that are not aligned with your ethics and values.
- Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness and live in the present moment. Experience the small things that bring you joy and laughter.
“Be happy in the moment, that is enough. Each moment is all we need, not more”- Mother Teresa
All in all, it is all about living life with passion and dedication. Difficulties will come, but we can smilingly face and overcome them. What good is a life not lived at all?
What is your life status? Being alive or truly living?
