It is always said that you learn to live by trial and error. Some people seem to do this better than others. How is that possible? Is it a matter of the art of living? The question is what it means, how you become it. If it is an art, you must have a talent for it; then it is not for everyone. If it is a skill, it can be learned; how to live a good life: being there for others, without neglecting yourself! That requires thinking about the meaning of existence. It is different for everyone. Just like everyone enjoys in their own way. The art of living therefore seems to be an open and indefinite concept. By everyone filling in their own way.
Unhappy
Life consists of trial and error. Some people seem born for happiness, others usually feel unhappy. How did that happen? Let’s look at the unhappy people first. If you recognize yourself in that, maybe you can do something to change it.
Three types of unhappy people can be distinguished
- The sinner; who always feels inadequate
- The narcissist; who has an endless need for admiration
- The megalomaniac; who wants to be feared
Give yourself attention or forget it?
Late in his life, the philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) discovered where unhappiness comes from: being too busy with yourself. His advice was: “Dedicate yourself to a cause and forget yourself!”
That means: pursuing a career , self-effacing, giving yourself completely to something (or someone)… But isn’t that the other extreme? After all, losing yourself completely in something is dangerous. Existence as thoughtless effort. A train thundering by. We all long for control over our lives, to feel safe, but on the other hand we need meaning, meaning, to be happy. You can only give meaning to your life yourself. So it is at least as important that you pay attention to yourself
- Choose a job for your livelihood (control); work that gives meaning to your life.
- Care about your family, your source of support (control), because you love them (meaning).
- Maintain a circle of friends, where you can be yourself (meaning), and who you can fall back on in difficult times (control).
Compromise
Unfortunately, a job does not necessarily coincide with what you find meaningful. Then we hope that you will find a good compromise. If you would like to be an artist, but cannot earn anything from it, it is better to look for a job that is somehow related to art: teacher, graphic designer, creative therapist, salesman of art supplies or, if necessary, an attendant. Or work as an administrative worker, organizer or manager in the art world. And if you don’t find anything like that either, look for a part-time job, or create your own freelance work, so that you have enough time to do what your heart really lies.
Bertrand Russel: Where does the accident come from? From being too busy with yourself.
Art
The word ‘art’ refers to an aesthetic experience. So is the art of living art? Then it concerns:
- getting inspiration, looking for a subject, collecting material
- looking, distancing, acting
- improvise, finish
- develop your own style/signature.
Art of living as a design of one’s own life? That you organize it in your own way with certain raw materials and specific skills; depending on who you can and want to be. The life artist who does not edit an image but himself. When is that image, your life successful?
Skills
But no, the art of living is not an art, it is more complex. The comparison doesn’t hold up.
A skill then? A craftsmanship? Then we are talking about:
- well-defined goals
- methods
- methods.
Wieland: You learn to live by trial and error; seeking a balance.
Art of living
We can apply certain elements of art and science to our lives. But the German writer Christoph Martin Wieland (1733-1813), who spent his entire life searching for a balance between religion and science, seriousness and frivolity, and moral duty and enjoyment of life, concluded: ,You learn to live by falling and stand up., There is no one way. What we can learn is: to live well. And philosophers continued to try to answer the question:
- Foucault (French thinker; 1926-1984): art of living is care for oneself (body, mind, thinking, emotion)
- Wittgenstein (Austrian-British philosopher 1889-1951): art of living is not the right word. Words take people in the wrong direction. ‘Art of living’ evokes associations with success.
Good luck
Not everyone is looking for success (and doesn’t even want to get rich; that just comes with responsibilities). That is, success can also have different meanings. Are you successful if you are popular or if you earn a lot? For some, success means being able to wander the world alone, or living in a hermitage in the Swiss mountains. So first ask yourself what it means for you . Suppose you always wanted to be a writer and suddenly you are translated into all kinds of languages and you have to promote your book from here to Tokyo. While you would rather sit in your hut on the heath and philosophize. So the art of living means in any case: thinking about the meaning of existence and it can mean that you choose seclusion. The goal is open, indefinite.
Wittgenstein: The art of living means: thinking about the meaning of existence
Personal
In short: The art of living is the design of one’s own life based on self-care. The answer to the question,
,How should I live?, is always different. You have to teach yourself an attitude.
- Don’t give up on your family (it needs you).
- Don’t sacrifice your private life to your career (what do you do when you’re on the street or retire?).
- Don’t hide behind an overactive volunteer life (also pay attention to yourself).
Be a life artist!