What is life about? The big picture, or the little things?

Answer 1

The big picture is an illusion.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

They're both equally important. I think Bruce Lee said it best:

"It is like a finger pointing away to the moon, don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all the heavenly glory."

There are other ways of looking at it, which makes it seem like I'm just dodging the question, but if you really think about it... it makes sense.

If we focus so much on the big picture, we might take forgranted the little things that got us there. And when you've gotten to the big picture, you'll look back and wish you would have paid more attention to the little thing. But if you focus so much on the little things, you'll never get to where you're going.

I guess what I am trying to say is... enjoy the little things in life, but always keep a mindful eye on the big picture.

Answer 3

Life is about 'living it as well as you can' ... so it's both 'the big picture' and 'the little things' that you do every day. If you have a 'good big picture' of life, and you 'tend to all of the little things well' then you have a 'good life' ... and whether you do something 'really wonderful and earthshaking' like giving millions of dollars to end 'hunger' in a 'real way' or you just 'make someone you don't know smile every day' doesn't really 'matter' as long as what you do is 'good' and you are 'happy to do it' to make other people's lives 'better' or 'nicer' or 'more happy according to the way they think happy should be' ...

Answer 4

I heard about an analogy some philosophy professor made in a lecture.

Goes something like this:

Professor and students are sitting in class and the professor pulls out a big jar. He proceeds to pour a bunch of rocks into the jar.

"Is the jar full?" Asks the professor.

"Yes, its full." Agree the students.

The professor pulls out a big bowl of pebbles and fills the jar to the top. The pebbles roll into the open spaces left by the rocks. Professor shakes the jar helping the pebbles to settle then levels it off to the top.

"How about now? Is the jar full?"

"Yes, I guess so." Agree the students.

The professor pulls out a bag of sand and pours it into the jar. The sand easily flows into the small spaces between the pebbles and again shakes the jar to help the sand settle. Afterwards pouring the remaining sand into the jar until it was level.

"The jar is your life" Says the professor.

"The rocks are the big stuff - your health, your parents, your spouse, your children, your close friends - things that would almost destroy you to loose."

"The pebbles are important stuff - your job, your house, your car - things that would be hugely troublesome, but replaceable."

"The sand is the small stuff - being cut off in traffic, your hobbies, the bar on weekends, the coolest new cloths - the stuff that really doesn't matter much."

"If you put the sand in the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles and rocks."

"The same is true of life. Take care of the rocks and then the pebbles - don't let the sand displace them."

Answer 5

Life is about focusing on the big picture, but taking care of the little things that make up the big picture too.
if you dont take care of the little problems in life, it becomes one big one in the end.

Answer 6

I think it's the oposite of what the first person said. Small things are important as well as the big picture but it's easy to get counght up in small details. A lot of the time it's dificult to see the big picture.

Answer 7

The big picture is easier to look at, but the little things are more important. It's much easier to look at the big picture. Big picture: "I'm going to die."

Answer 8

It's about appreciating the "little things."

We can make all the plans we like, as regards the "big picture," but it's the ability to value the small things that counts.

Answer 9

It's the little things, that make up the big picture. Such as a jig-saw's pieces are the little things; they make up the larger puzzle. And if one piece is missing, the big picture isn't complete.

Answer 10

What is the meaning of life, you are asking? We know, by the nature of our existence that intelligence exists. Imagine intelligence present in the universe ALONE. Supreme intelligence. Really now, think about that. IF there was something that was pure intelligence, AND there was no other thing how would it even realize it's own existence. We are intelligence experiencing ITSELF. What is life about? Experience. Plain and simple.