Definition of Life

Posted on July 1, 2007
Filed Under Journal, Society, Spirituality, Consciousness |

How many people try to give a fixed meaning to the definition of life? I thought about this, and realized why people can’t decide on any particular meaning. It’s the wrong question; “What is the definition of life?”, the answer is expected to begin with; “the definition of life is…” But it doesn’t work like that, it can’t. Want to know why? Well it’s simple.

Life is unique. And people are unique - insofar as it goes. But now I have to define my definition of “Life is unique” don’t I? Well, it’s not to do with the life people lead. No no, not their jobs, nor their house, nor their bank statement. Not even whether they visit church or help sweet old ladies cross the road. Well not really anyway. “Life is unique” has quite another meaning. There is a clear definition - and here it is: Peoples perspectives are unique. So quite naturally they can’t agree on a definition of life. Makes sense doesn’t it. It’s clear enough - at least to me it is - well for the moment anyway.

Definition of Life. Life in your hands.

That’s the thing isn’t it. Perspective can change from day to day, like life it isn’t really fixed - not unless we choose it to be. And even then it requires a force of will. Something most people would define as ignorance…or also arrogance. But that’s okay - we all have our fair share of that trait, some more so than others. It’s nothing to feel bad about - so long as it isn’t hurting anyone that is.

So - shifting perspectives - that is where we’re at. And I tell you, from what I have seen, I am beginning to believe that is as good a definition of life as any. It all comes down to how we interact with life and reality, or at least with what we perceive as reality…and the more flexible your view, the more dynamic your perspective - then the more of reality you will be shown. I say shown rather than see, because it is a gift - quite unlike the passive sense of sight or indeed our other senses. It’s more like a combination of senses bound up with experience, flexibility, open-mindedness and an entire host of other traits. So a kind of “interactive-sight” rather than passive-sight.

Life is inside us. And that’s good, because life talks to us, life wants us to interact with it. People say “life passes us by”, well that is only true if you act like an observer. If you treat life like a TV show or a movie, then sure everything whizzes by. It’s pretty easy to get stuck in a rut, I wouldn’t define that as a mistake or failure…but it is a bit of a pitfall. A gaping hole that you sort of stumble into, and that’s when the thought loops start, and a pattern sets in. Eventually our perspective ceases up and we are left with a fixed perspective on life. A pretty drab definition if ever there was one.

From that point of view a dynamic shifting perspective sounds kinda fishy and unlikely. But it certainly exists - and it is not all that difficult to grasp. It begins with the little things, understanding how our personality works and our behaviour patterns. You can modify such things by number of means, it can be as simple as changing your own definitions on things. Varying communication style is quite a good technique - it’s like stepping into a different mind, and it can give a very different outlook on things. Sometimes it is a bit like stepping on a tak, especially for other people who may read your writings or speak with you. A jolt that challenges perspective, because they no doubt thought they had you pretty well defined.

And that’s when you begin to find your barriers - because if that jolt causes a negative response, then it is hitting up against something. A barrier somewhere in your character, I know what that’s like - I have plenty. It’s these barriers that stop us seeing and feeling reality, that stop us from experiencing life. Giving them a bit of a rattle is quite healthy. Eventually they fall down - and you get to see a new vista. That’s part of what I mean when I say reality talks to us, and that life is interactive.

Life isn’t meant to be about having barriers, so reality will help you knock them down. Most people resist - but the idea is to let it happen…step by step you get shown the way. And if you can rattle those barriers a bit from the inside every now and then - well then all the better.

The Barriers of Life

Then after that? Well things start to get really interesting…because not only are perspectives dynamic, but so too is reality. Every single level of it.

So about the definition of life. Well it’s something that is dynamic, flexible, and embedded deeply in a reality that doesn’t seem to follow many rules at all. And that definition is either really helpful or damn useless, depending on where you are coming from.