Today,
I find myself reflecting deeply on some existential concepts that have been weighing on my mind lately.
The more I explore the impermanent nature of life, the more I am drawn to the realization that many of the ideals pushed by society, ideas like legacy, ownership, and even success seem ultimately futile.
These constructs, which we’ve been taught to cherish, are based on illusions that mask the truth of the fleeting nature of everything around us.
It was once my belief that a legacy mattered. I used to believe that what I left behind, the mark I made on the world, would define me in some way.
But now, when I consider the impermanence of everything, I realize how trivial this pursuit really is.
The truth is, everything passes, people, possessions, and even the systems we live under. My desire for legacy, a desire to be remembered, feels like an empty chase now.
Eventually, the world moves on, and even the most significant accomplishments are forgotten, overshadowed, buried by the sands of time.
And then there’s ownership. The idea that anyone can own something permanently, that we have control over anything in this world. This all seems like an illusion as well.
Even when we claim to own things whether it’s property, money, or even our own bodies, these things are not truly ours to keep.
Our ownership is temporary, fleeting perhaps even closer to the concept of a "rental" in colloquial language. Nothing we possess will last forever, and we, too, will eventually return to the earth.
So what, then, is the point of it all? Why do we cling to these ideals, these pursuits that are doomed to fade?
I find myself more and more drawn to the idea that inner peace is the only pursuit worth focusing on.
If everything is impermanent, if nothing truly lasts, then perhaps the most meaningful thing I can cultivate is a state of peace within myself in this moment.
A peace that isn’t dependent on legacy or ownership, but simply on being, being present in the moment, accepting life as it comes, without attachment to the fleeting things that surround us.
The pursuit of inner peace, I believe, is the only way to find fulfillment in this world.
It’s the only pursuit that can bring true contentment, because it isn’t based on external validation or accomplishments that will eventually be forgotten.
Inner peace is rooted in accepting what is, rather than what we wish it to be. It’s about learning to let go of the societal pressures, the expectations, and the need for external approval. I’ve realized that I don’t need to chase anything or prove myself to anyone. Instead, I just need to be.
This doesn’t mean complete detachment from the world. No, we should still want to live authentically, and still want to engage with life in meaningful ways.
But to do so without the expectation that anything will last forever. To enjoy the fleeting beauty of this moment without trying to hold on to it.
In doing so, I believe we can cultivate a sense of peace that transcends the chaos and impermanence of everything else in this world.
I’ve spent so much of my life trying to prove myself, trying to find meaning in external accomplishments.
But now, I wonder if perhaps the greatest meaning comes from within. Inner peace isn’t something we can find in external circumstances, but in our own hearts and minds.
And that, to me, is the only thing worth chasing.
Peace is not something to be earned or achieved in the future, but something to be experienced in the present, in the midst of all the chaos and impermanence.
We must all learn to embrace the transient nature of life, finding peace in the now, rather than clinging to things that cannot endure or hoping for salvation in the future.
