Do you ever feel that you're not living life to the fullest?

Question

I'm only 20 so I lack the experience to know if I am or not. Last week a friend of mine died and it's got me thinking about the frailty of life.

What can be done? Does it go away when you're older if you do start applying yourself?

Answer 1

I'm here aren't I?

Answer 2

I'm sixteen and on many occasions I have experienced the same feeling. Sometimes I think that in order to actually live life to the fullest you have to be able to let everything go. You have to have the ability to overcome all fear. That is when you will start to appreciate everything so much more because there will be nothing holding you back from doing what makes you more you.

I myself can't manage yet to let go of the things that weigh me down which I don't even need! For instance, I don't need all of the clothing I have. I don't need all of the crap I have. I am basically living to get more crap that I just don'r need. I work to get money for the stuff that builds a cage around me.

I am so sorry about your friend.

Embrace everything that comes to you as a learning experience. As something that makes you a better person, a stronger one. In that you can truely learn to be fearless and make the best of your limited time here.

Best wishes.

Answer 3

You know, my life might not appear terribly exciting to an outsider, but I am so happy and satisfied at 42 years of age. I was floundering at 20, but I do believe that wisdom comes with age and experience. I would just advise a young person to not be reckless. Weigh your decisions carefully, try always to do the right thing, and work hard. As long as you always know that you have done your best and tried to do the right thing, you will be able to sleep at night. As for the frailty of life, it is a matter of perception. It's not what we choose and it is hard to be left behind. I believe that there is an appointed time for us to be born and the same regarding our deaths. I think that, until God calls us home, NOTHING can kill us! I am so sorry about your friend.

Answer 4

I don't know - maybe it does for the lucky people. I'm with you in that I wonder if I'm living the best life I can. I do know that I waste a lot of time watching TV, being on Y!A, and other things like that - and I always think I should be doing something exciting. But, maybe people in movies and books are the only ones who are doing exciting things all the time...?
I think it's great that you're wondering about this at 20, though, because that means you have all your entire life ahead of you yet.

Answer 5

First off your right at 20 you have your whole life ahead of you now I am only twice your age but when they say "been there done that,got the T-shirt to prove it" I opened the store. Now living life to the fullest is a matter of prospective, you have to evaluate your life to know where you stand with Love, friends, religion all that but if you feel your living life to the fullest then that is where you need to head. But at 20 don't get caught up in the rat race, trust me it will come to you.

Answer 6

The funny thing about this question (not your's specifically but the question in general) is that it assumes there is an objective full life, something that determines what is and is not full. Usually people think of risk, spontaneous choices, traveling, going places, having little to no inhibitions, making free, creative choices, etc., as reasons/ways to live a full life. The only one I agree with, making free, creative choices of the free, authentic self. If you do things for the sake of others then you are not being yourself, not being authentic.

A full life is within, the soul contented. You get that way by traveling OR staying in one place finding its secrets, you read a lot or experience a lot, you watch good movies or make good movies, whatever works to make you happy and content.

So, for this specific instance (and I'm sorry for your loss...it's hard and definitely mind-opening), I'd reflect: have I made good choices, have a made free choices, have I let other dictate my life, have I done things to make me happy and full? Bertrand Russell (I think) said (my paraphrase) wasted time spent with happiness and love is not wasted time!

My full life: teaching, reading, writing, listening to the wind in the trees, gardening, watching sunsets, never letting others tell me how to act. I'm 26, young like you, and we both have a lot more to go and do, but we are free to decide what that "more" and "do" is.

Good luck!

"To thine own self be true."

Answer 7

Confronting one's mortality, particularly at a young and transitory age, can only lead one to question the validity of existence. This will fade with time.

As for living life to the fullest, that depends entirely on you.

There are "goals" which are sustained by societal expectations, but eventually everyone comes to question what matters most on a personal level. This could be anything, although we generally refer to it as "fulfillment."

Answer 8

I'm younger than you but i still feel as though my life means just about nothing. if i had never been born, the world would be completely fine. i can't wait until i graduate from college get a job, make money, and hopefully do something important with my life. I really do want to make a difference in the world.

Answer 9

It's normal to feel that way throughout life. I'm 45, and have had the feeling at least twice yearly.

I think it's just a way for feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt to express themselves. The trick is to not dwell on them -- they'll go away once your mind is occupied with something else.

Answer 10

There are times where I do feel this but I try to do what I can to help others so that humanity can try to work toward a wonderful future:

I have lots of info that I think you will find quite helpful and enlightening:

http://360.yahoo.com/blorm_multaeeneea_lavacom (For tons of inspirational info)

http://ecowellness.multiply.com/ (For all the environmental info)

Let us all strive for a greener/brighter future by helping to create a solid foundation for future generations to build upon, so we can hand them a beautiful world, filled with never ending awe and wonders!!

Where peoples differences and uniqueness are accepted, where we all live as one, helping one another so that we can all play our own mysteriously beautiful melodies in the never ending, awe inspiring, song of life :-)

I truly have faith in humanity and believe that someday our lives and the world in which we live will truly be transformed for the better.

Answer 11

All the time