The Essence Of Freedom

Life is too hard and too risky in the eyes of many. By contrast, others are such proponents of a virile existence, demanding great courage and giving great pride, that they are ready to leave the coziness of their home to scale Mount Everest and breast the elements for the sheer joy of conquering the summit. Whatever the perspective, the nature of things remains unchanged. There are rules, necessities and duties, and limits, possibilities and impossibilities. Until doom, one can accept them and make the best of them, much to one's pleasure and honor, or one can do the opposite and suffer the consequences. The choice between these two options is the very essence of freedom. Personally, I have no use for the second option: a self-inflicted misery that is without the slightest doubt a pitiable way of life.

The first option, on the other hand, is a pleasurable and honorable alternative that I find compelling, though uphill. It is applicable to any situation encountered in the course of one's living venture, provided one is not unfortunate to the point of being hopelessly unable to cope. The range of this applicability corresponds with the range of one's adaptability. It is normally considerable, despite the tendency to cling to old gratifying habits even after they have become impracticable or unsuitable, owing to a change of situation. One can be weaned from such habits onto new gratifying habits, in the same way as a baby can be weaned onto solids. The more the change is significant and one is reluctant to adapt to it, the more the weaning process is difficult and long in producing the desired effect. Again, the only option worthy of one's attention consists in taking things as they come and making the most of them, for one's sake and that of others. The reverse is foolish and harmful, a deplorable waste of humanity.

On the whole, the power to live in a well-adjusted and high-minded way and the freedom to choose this way in preference to the alternate, illegitimate, way are the foundations of the life one builds. The exercise of this power does not necessarily imply a principled resignation toward the status quo. One may be faced with a remediable evil that calls for a struggle to remedy it, effectively and rightly. In that case, living in a well-adjusted and high-minded way entails accepting the need for this struggle and the means of waging it, and sparing no effort to attain one's end. Ills are a test of will, an opportunity to show dignity.

They are also an opportunity to probe and appraise one's inner resources. Over the years, I have improved my situation and especially my attitude, whose negativity was the most unfavorable and improvable aspect of my life. In so doing, I have discovered my true richness. Nature has endowed me with an adaptable capacity for happiness within the limits of my changeable reality. According to my observations, this capacity is not unusually great, compared with that of most people. I am even tempted to think it is somewhat lagging behind. Eleven years plus to adapt in triumph to my physical disability is no feat for the Guinness Book of World Records!

During that time, the riddle of life had more or less baffled me. Yet, laboriously, with the help of many books and much thought, I had managed by degrees to clear it up, enough to find a meaning to my life. This riddle is comparable to a mire: The slower you go through it, the deeper you get into it. Perhaps thinkers are commonly untalented in the art of living and their saving grace is their dogged determination to redeem this lack of talent by dint of studying the human soul. Amusingly enough, these untalented individuals are often perceived as gifted, once they have seen the light and reflected it with the numerous mirrors of an elaborate analysis, after a tentative and protracted search in the dark.

This sort of overcompensation is typical of people who experience difficulties in a certain area, but refuse to admit defeat. While some fare well in this area with a minimum of effort, they try hard to overcome these difficulties, with the result that they often fare better than the others. Their redeeming feature is their willpower in the face of their shortcoming, which they use as a reason to redouble their efforts, not as an excuse to throw in the towel. This is a recipe for a worthy success. They discipline and surpass themselves, and thus proudly turn things around.

Laurent Grenier's writing career spans over twenty years. During this time he has broadened and deepened his worldview, by dint of much reflection and study, and in the end has crafted "A Reason for Living," his best work to date.

Official web site: http://laurentgrenier.com/ARFL.html

---

The Pledge

You know kids, one of the things I've learned by... Read More

Lifetime of Discoveries: Moments of Peace and Renewal

There are discoveries all around us—small gifts of joy that... Read More

Follow Your Dreams: Believe In You

What you believe in the inside, to a large extent... Read More

Reclaiming Our Resilient Spirit

Our spirits are taking a beating. The daily barrage of... Read More

Essential Ingredient

Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 15,... Read More

Hitler and the Tsunami

In Catholic school the nuns used to tell us that... Read More

Struggling With Addictions

What kind of bad habits do you struggle with? Most... Read More

Doing the Remarkable

When it comes to meeting and conquering the negativity in... Read More

Caste Out

Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 29,... Read More

$12 And 90 Minutes To Change Your Life

Have you ever listened to self hypnosis tapes? Or listened... Read More

TIES that BIND

I have no idea how it started or who launched... Read More

Ctrl-Alt-Delete Your Life

Ah, the good old "Vulcan nerve pinch", the three-fingered salute,... Read More

Courage That Changes Your Life

"The scars you acquire while exercising courage will never make... Read More

Self Acceptance ? Lessons From My Hair Affair

For our diet and, indeed, in every aspect of our... Read More

Self Esteem - What It Really Is and How to Raise It

Self esteem.Now there's a well used and little understood term.... Read More

Wisdom of the Worlds Proverbs

You don't have to excavate diamond mines or oil fields... Read More

Here is The Inspirational Wisdom From The Masters

Have you always wanted to do invent something, create something,... Read More

The Seasons of Life, Part 1 of 5

Life is about constant, predictable patterns of change. For the... Read More

Big-Wave Mindfulness: Surfing For A Connection

Surfing is mindfulness in action. Riding the biggest waves is... Read More

Never Jump to Conclusions

Human mind which is well known as a fluctuating prodigy... Read More

Your Self-Image - How Is It Working for You?

"All that you desire or require is already on your... Read More

Create Your Own Self Esteem - Part 2

The good part of this story is that there is... Read More

Dont Ever Give Up

There is a reason I never gave up. A reason... Read More

Succeed by Whistling While You Work

Mark Twain (1835-1910) believed that having fun is important if... Read More

The Cracked Pot

Letters on Life#3Some experiences you never forget. In some of... Read More

Aim High

Change is difficult for many people. Often times our whole... Read More

Delay Can Reveal Doubts

Confident Expectation! The feeling of 'confidence' is the assurance that... Read More

Everyone Has Been Hurt...Part 1

I want to share some things with you that I... Read More

Reality Check

Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 16,... Read More

Finding Inspiration to Realise Your Dreams and Ambitions

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.... Read More

Are YOU Ready for Bonza Bottler Day?

BONZA BOTTLER DAY is any day when the date and... Read More

Anam Chara - Living A Life Of Value

Much of our lives we spend comparing what "me" has... Read More

How to Pray on Water! Announcing Life-Changing Bible Code - Discover Amazing Water Scriptures!

Water is the source of life, yet so few of... Read More