In part one of this three part essay, we explored the concept of Autotelic Living; The practice of immersing oneself in the flow of the moment and pursuing an occupation or way of life that is rewarding in and of itself. One of the side effects of choosing such an extraordinary way of life is Self-Realization.
Side effects may include.. A badass life.
There are a number of definitions of self-realization from a plethora of cultures, ideologies, religions, and psychological constructs. For our purposes we will simply define it as fulfilling your own potential. That is, achieving a sense of accomplishment within yourself and reaching (or even surpassing) the limits to what you thought you were capable of. For many, this is related to career advancement. However, this could be about achieving any personal development goal, whether it's body transformation, skill acquisition, financial independence, or fostering meaningful relationships.
The highest degree of self-realization comes from a combination of all of the above; the Ultimate Balance.
A word of caution though. Be mindful in your pursuit of self-realization. It isn't about out-doing others... It never is.
Rather, it is the simple and rewarding pursuit of fulfilling your own potential. Compete with yourself. Be a better you today than you were yesterday.
Do we ever reach this state? I don't know. Perhaps only fleetingly. Perhaps it is the concept that drives us on, a perfect dream that allows us to improve our lives and the lives of others, thus achieving blissful contentment. It may merely be a vision of something ethereal... some sort of magical nirvana, a state of being we won't likely see in this life..
But then consider this; what is permanent? Everything is fleeting, and your own self-realization will only exist as long as you do (which, sadly, isnt really that long).
Yes. Life is short. Deal with it.
The goal is the journey is the goal
Confused yet?
Now, on a practical level, becoming self-realized is about fusing what you love doing, with what you are naturally gifted at. Then, taking this combination and maximizing your potential within a given environment.
An autotelic lifestyle is a very efficient tool for achieving this, as it allows you to pare your life down to the essentials, having only what you need to achieve what you want. Being an autotelic person means that you are acutely aware of your mission in life; your life purpose. Therefore, any action you do will be geared towards living this purpose, towards living a fearless life of passion and eternal joy. Knowing the goal is half the journey.
Also, for an autotelic person, the journey is also the goal. So enjoy the process. Have clearly defined goals and walk the path towards them. But take the time to stop and smell the flowers on the way, to enjoy the action of walking, and the wonderful sights and sounds that fill your waking moments.
Once you known who you are and what you want, everything else fades away. You will strive more and more for elegance. For the smallest number of moving parts. For a flawless process spearheading every action you take towards your own self-realization.
The bone of wisdom
(Hint: repeat the last subtitle out loud for a laugh on my expense) Now, all this is fine and dandy, but I would be remiss to not throw you a bone or two. Here's a few practical steps for you to chew on:
1. Define your mission: Sit down. Grab a pen and paper, or open a word document. Begin by outlining your mission in life. What makes you tick? What are you good at? Do the things you are good at make you happy? I often ask myself, If I suddenly became a millionaire, and spent a few months travelling and partying until I got sick of it, eventually craving a way to actually contribute to the universe, what would that thing be? What would I do for free?
2. Find a mentor: If you have a goal, or a vision of the life you want to lead, find a mentor who embodies that. If you can't acutally meet that person, look for idols. Looking to get a better body? Collect photos and web clippings of a person with a great body. Looking to achieve a certain level of success in your career? Get images of a person you admire in that field. Visualizing what you want is a powerful step towards helping you realize your goals.
3. Develop awareness: Do you know what time it is? It's right NOW! Become acutely aware of the present moment. This is crucial. Self-realization is about living in the now. If you catch yourself worrying too much about the future or stressing about the past, quickly snatch yourself up, and bring yourself to this moment. This wonderful, exiting moment! Remember, to achieve self-realization one must first foster self-awareness.
Autotelic living and self-realization don't grow on trees (but ironically kind of do), so a concept I devised is something essential to doing both of these things, a triggering factor if you will.. The Pursuit of Weirdness.
In the third and final segment of this essay I'll explain why you would want to pursue weirdness and give you some practical tips for living an awesome life.. See you then!
Peace.
Read part three of this essay here.
