“We all have two lives. The second life starts when we realize that we only have one.”
Tom Hiddlestone

What defines us are our experiences

What defines us are the experiences we make. We are who we are even if all the stuff that surrounds us is removed. Owning “things” gives us a false sense of security. What actually is happening is that those “things” are holding us back.

Once we come to the realization that we only have this one life, that it is not a test run, we realize we have to free ourselves to be able to make experiences. With clutter around us, even if it is beautiful and organized clutter we are just going to waste our lives in comfort and a false sense of security sacrificing experiences. 

We only have ourselves

The ones that are able to let go are the ones that struggle the least if disaster hits. We need to understand that we only have ourselves. The moment we lose consciousness it is out of our hands what is going to happen to us.

Until then we should focus on our mind, our body, our health and on how we feel, what experiences we make. How can we widen our comfort zone? The bigger it is, the better. We stop being afraid of what’s happening and start embracing change. That allows us to grow, defines us and we come to life.

The sooner we have something major happening in our lives, the luckier we are if it functions as a wake-up call: Someone close dying, some natural disaster, anything that rattles us and wakes us up. That moment our life really starts. And if we act then we can start to truly live.

Our first versus our second life

The first life is one dominated by stuff and behavior that follows superficial rules. We surround ourselves with items that are lying around not moving and it gives us the feeling that those items are eternal, making us believe, we are too. But we are finite. The sooner we understand it the better.

The second life is happening once we start to be authentic, true to ourselves and free to have time for a lot of experiences. In your second life, you get out of bed because you do something that matters. You move people. It starts to be worth listening to yourself because you start, to be honest with yourself and that reflects on your relationship with others.

We all have two lives

Don’t wait for a wake-up call.  Start your second life now. You have or had dreams at some stage. They normally are connected with what we want to achieve, experiences we want to make. Sit down and make some time to write your bucket list. Start widening your comfort zone. Push those boundaries. And get rid of things, people, situations, and memories that hold you back. Focus on this moment right now. Line up great moments and start right now. Right now is the best time!

Free yourself and start your second life. Enjoy what’s necessary.

“We are the sum total of our experiences.” Dr. Thomas Gliovich

Share your thoughts with comments below. Contact me with anything you have got on your mind. I am always very curious to learn.