“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”
– Soren Kierkegaard
I have a life problem. Several, actually. But PLOT TWIST… everyone does!
Personal and global problems plague the world. They can be crucial to solve. But when it comes to focusing on problems, how far is too far?
Do you ever play whack-a-mole with your problems? I do. I’ll focus on fixing them, and more pop up immediately afterwards. But unlike whack-a-mole, focusing on whacking your problems isn’t a fun game because there’s no score, you don’t win tickets, and the game never ends. The moles keep coming! That reminds me, I might need to get a mole removed. Add that to my problem tab.
It makes sense that new problems would be discovered or acknowledged once old problems dissolve. In reality, we have hundreds or thousands of problems, large and small, at all times. We have a lot of problems now that we aren’t aware of. And we have flaws that everyone else sees, but we can’t.
That’s why I like Kierkegaard’s quote so much. Life is full of problems to solve, but that’s not what it’s about. How unsatisfying would it be to dedicate yourself to solving problems, only to end up with just as many as you started with?
Mo Money, Mo Problems?
Some think that money will solve their problems. But having a lot of money just gives you different problems. Yes, getting rich will certainly solve most of your financial-related problems, which are common and can be daunting. But right after you solve those, you’ll notice those new moles pop up. Johnny Cash was rich and his last name was cash, and look at what he said about it:
Being rich means you get to worry about everything except money.
– Johnny Cash
What’s the answer, then?
It’s about choosing the life problems you want to have… life problems you can live with. Insert spouse joke here.
What problems can you enjoy life with? What problems truly need solving for you to be happy? It’s a matter of priority and energy distribution.
The True Meaning of Paradise
The “picture of paradise” looks something like this to beach and relaxation lovers (plus a pina colada, obviously).
The reason this is paradise is an incredibly important detail. Some may say the vibe conveyed here is that you have no problems, but that’s the opposite! Aiming for a problem-free life is the most stressful thing you could ever do. It can only be described as impossible and frustrating. The truth of this image, and the reason it is paradise, is the relaxed vibe that you don’t care about your problems in this moment.
You’re not worried about insurance here. You don’t care if your hair is in a weird position. You’re just chillin’ without a worry in the world, enjoying the view, the sound of the waves, and a tasty tropical drink. I mean, why else do you think tourist spots overcharge customers? Tourists don’t care about price when they’re in the zone! They just want to enjoy the moment, and they should. It’s sometimes “correct” to overpay on vacation.
Enjoyment of a life with problems is the true freedom we desire. Not to be rid of all problems or find the perfectly balanced life, but to experience the best life has to offer us without letting our problems stress us out. Life can be enjoyed, even with problems. More accurately, life can only be enjoyed with problems.
I’m currently preparing for a dream vacation. I’m going to enjoy it to the max, even though (just between you and me and… the internet) I definitely have some remaining problems. I’m sure I’ll take a few of them with me, but I’ll see the rest of them when I get back.
But this doesn’t only apply to vacation. This is a daily life mindset. Solve what problems need solving, but don’t forget to experience life’s blessings too.
