We often desire life to unfold exactly as we envision it, striving for a particular version of perfection that caters to our ideals. We want our careers to progress in a certain trajectory, our spouses to act in ways that please us, our children to follow our guidance, and the world to acknowledge our worth. But eventually, reality sets in, and we find ourselves tempering these desires, reminding ourselves that we cannot control everything in life.
This raises a critical question: Is life still worth living? This question is frequently posed by those grappling with doubts or facing significant challenges. The answer is simple, yet despite this, countless people across the world choose to end their lives prematurely each year. This perpetuates the cycle of karma.
Everyone aspires to attain 100% of what they want in life. Who wouldn’t? But the truth is, no one ever gets everything they desire all the time. This is a universal law that applies to everyone, without exception. Your station in life doesn’t matter—whether you are the most talented, the richest, or the most powerful—you will never have everything your heart longs for. You may acquire more than others, but never all. The sooner you accept this, the sooner the perfectionist within you will start to let go.
The most difficult part of our work is not informing someone that their life is nearing its end. The undeniable truth of mortal life is that it will one day conclude. The hardest part is helping someone realise they are allowing their alter-ego, the perfectionist, to dominate their life.
But how do you convince a perfectionist that they are, in fact, imperfect? How do you make them understand that their emotional distress stems from an unrealistic view of this imperfect world? Their unhappiness, poor decisions, and negative outcomes are mere shadows of who they are—shadows they cannot see because they remain in the dark. Ironically, reincarnated perfectionists endure immense suffering in the 21st century. Despite their achievements, they face significant emotional stress and turmoil.
Perfectionists do not see the world as it is; they see it as it should be, believing that the world and everyone in it should revolve around them. Yet, they are blind to the reality they do not perceive. When a doctor gives a prognosis, the patient may relate to the symptoms, a perfectionist however, often reacts with denial, insisting that without their influence, nothing would exist, or claiming that if others had only listened to them, the current predicament could have been avoided.
Enlightenment is the highest clarity in understanding what truly matters in life. Karmic forces are at play when we face challenges, although we may not comprehend these forces or their reasons. Often, we allow our desires to cloud our judgement, leading us to make hasty decisions with restless, unstable, or unsound minds. We can only hold ourselves accountable because we know the logic: decisions should be made with a calm, stable, and sound mind. If we are not in the right state of mind, it is crucial to delay decisions until we achieve such clarity.
Do not chase a perfect life in a world that will never be perfect. This world is governed by the invisible hand of impermanence. And do not attempt to change the world to make it exactly what you want as you will only end up where many have failed before—in despair. Instead, live to realise and culminate all your reincarnated journeys toward the ultimate goal of enlightenment. Doing so will free your spirit from the relentless cycle of birth and rebirth.
So, is life worth living? You will discover its true worth only when fully engaged in living it.