"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards"
When we embark on the grown-up tasks of finding a mate, establishing a career, parenting and growing old, we’re left to our own devices. As much as we wish there were a “way,” there is no “one” or “right” way. We have to rely on our own way.
In essence, life is an experiment that we make up as we go along. The only clues we have are the inner urges, flashes of insight or images that come from within. At some point we have to follow our internal breadcrumbs and make the hard decisions.
This is easier said than done; most of us want to know how something is going to turn out before we make the commitment. But that’s not how life works. We commit and then we see what happens.
Since life is a trial and error approach, confusion, doubt and frustration are normal outcomes.
The key is to stay the course and commit to creating the richest life possible. Give it our best shot by clarifying what is most important to us, then proceed within this context, even if, at times, it doesn’t seem achievable.
The 19th-century Dutch philosopher and theologian, Soren Kierkegaard, famously said: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
This profound statement reminds us of the importance of taking personal responsibility and committing to our course. It doesn’t matter how old we are or whatever stage of life we’re living.
We must live forward into our dreams, even when we’re not sure how they are going to turn out. We may zig, zag and turn abruptly, but when we look back, we’ll understand how it all came together.
