In the chaos and turbulence of life, it can be natural to wonder why life is worth living.
When it feels like nothing is going right, your mind will naturally look for reasons to give up instead of reasons to keep going. But the good news is that no matter what your mind tells you, the core truth of life is that it’s worth living.
Unless you were born with a physical/mental disadvantage that makes it impossible, there’s no reason why you can’t have everything you’ve ever wanted. There’s no reason why you can’t turn your dreams into your reality.
Even though life will give you plenty of reasons to give up on these dreams, that fact alone should be enough fuel to keep you going.
For those of you going through tough times, I hope this article reminds you that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.
6 Powerful Reasons Why Life Is Worth Living
Without further ado, let’s dive into some powerful reasons why life is beautiful and worth living.
Here are some beacons of hope that you can fall back on when things feel hopeless and you’re trying to find purpose.
#1: Your Existence Is An Anomaly
The sheer improbability of your existence is the first reason why life is worth living. Consider the intricate dance of biology, circumstances, and sheer chance that led to you.
The average man produces about 525 billion sperm cells over a lifetime, and the average woman will release around 400 eggs in her lifetime. Taking that into account, the odds of that one particular sperm meeting that one particular egg are about 1 in 210 trillion.
You are a once-in-a-universe miracle, an unrepeatable collection of talents, experiences, and possibilities.
Also consider the circumstances around your existence right now. At this moment, you’re on a space rock that’s floating in infinite nothingness. Oh, and somehow this space rock contains the optimal conditions for human beings to survive.
If you take a minute to zoom out and recognize the sheer absurdity of your existence, you’ll find it much easier to see the beauty of life.
It’s unfathomable that we’re all here, which is why we need to squeeze everything we can out of it.
#2: Your Struggles Have A Purpose
Struggle can make it hard to appreciate life, but it does have a purpose — to help you refine your character and advance to new levels of growth.
If you analyze the lives of great people, you’re bound to find periods of turmoil. In fact, the people who have the things we want are usually the ones who’ve struggled the most:
- Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before inventing the incandescent lightbulb.
- Niki Lauda suffered third degree burns on his face before eventually returning and becoming one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all-time.
- Walt Disney couldn’t pay his rent and was forced to survive on dog food after his first company was dissolved.
- Oprah Winfrey was born into a poor family in rural Mississippi and was sexually abused as a child.
I don’t know what you’re going through right now. It’s very possible that you’ve lived a more difficult life than me, and most of the people you know.
But I also know this — someone out there has it worse than you. And instead of reveling in self-pity, they’re choosing to move forward in spite of their circumstances.
Which path are you going to take?
#3: The Life You Want Is Possible
Another reason why life is worth living lies in its endless possibilities. Although it doesn’t always feel like it, you meet the minimum requirements for whatever you desire.
You know that person who has complete financial freedom? You can have that too if you’re willing to put in the work.
You know that person with unshakeable confidence? You can develop that too if you’re willing to stretch your comfort zone daily.
You know that person with an unbelievable physique? You can look like them too if you’re willing to hit the gym and put your body under extreme stress.
The pursuit of these possibilities are what make life worth living.
If you’re willing to accept the challenges of life instead of running from them, then you can make the next chapters of your life the best yet.
Never forget that.
#4: Nothing Is Permanent
“Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute, an hour, a day, or even a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place.” ~ Lance Armstrong
Understanding life’s impermanence is crucial to enjoying it.
Sometimes, you’ll be on cloud nine because everything is trending in the right direction — you’re moving towards your goals, you’re fostering positive relationships, and you’re growing each and every day.
It’s easy to feel upbeat during these periods, but the ebbs and flows of life can throw you back into the dirt at any moment.
Triumphs are not permanent, but neither are your defeats. Happiness is not permanent, but neither is sadness. Inner peace is not permanent, but neither is inner conflict.
A meaningful life is about embracing all of it. You need the bad to appreciate the good. You need the ugly to appreciate the beautiful.
The fact that your life is always under construction is a reminder to savor everything, even when it feels like nothing is going your way.
#5: You Have Unique Talents & Abilities
Your ability to create, contribute, and change is another compelling reason why life is worth living. In case you need a reminder, you have unique talents and skills that add value to the world.
You may be an empathetic listener, an inspired artist, a strategic thinker, or a talented cook. Whatever your natural gifts are, embracing them is what adds richness and flavor to your life.
If you feel like there’s a bunch of things you’re bad at, then you’re not alone. We all suck at things.
You probably also have some pretty amazing natural gifts that can lead you to places you’ve never imagined.
Will it take work to maximize these gifts? Absolutely.
Will you doubt yourself along the way? Yes, over and over again.
Will life do everything it can to make you forget these gifts? Yes, it will.
None of that changes the fact that those innate gifts are within you. The world is full of people who’ve found those gifts, nurtured them, and leveraged them to create an amazing life.
Because while the world can be a cruel beast, it can also be an incredibly generous place if you have the fortitude to nurture your talents.
So as you think about your own life, ask yourself the following questions:
- What kind of work feels exciting to me?
- What do the people around me say that I’m good at?
- What do I enjoy doing that other people don’t like doing?
- Where are my natural gifts and abilities best utilized?
At the very least, these questions will pull you towards the life paths that align with your natural gifts. And as you work to develop these gifts, you’ll find the meaning that you’re looking for.
#6: People Need Your Story
Think about the people that you look up to for a second. Why do you look up to them?
- Is it because of their social confidence?
- Is it their business success?
- Is it their incredible physique?
- Is it because they’re phenomenal communicators?
My guess is that you admire these people, at least in some part, because they’ve overcome the challenges you’re struggling with.
If you’re struggling with social anxiety, it’s only natural that you admire someone who has charisma and confidence. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, it’s only natural that you admire someone who has become rich by launching successful companies.
But your role models weren’t always the finished product that you admire.
That person with tons of social charisma? I guarantee you that at one point they struggled mightily to talk to strangers.
That multi-millionaire entrepreneur? I guarantee you that their first 3-4 business ideas completely flopped.
Now here’s the beautiful cycle that explains why life is so beautiful and worth living:
You face challenges → You look to others for inspiration → You use their lessons to fix your own life → You become a source of inspiration for others.
The challenges that you’re enduring right now are part of your story. And if you can battle through them, someday your story will inspire others to do the same.
Don’t just fix your life for you. Do it for the people who will use your transformation as fuel to change their own lives.
Do it for your children, or your future children. Do it for your friends and inspire them to change and grow with you. Do it for your parents and show them that it’s never too late to chase their dreams.
Do it for yourself first, and then find meaning by passing your lessons onto others.
Final Thoughts On Why Life Is Worth Living
These six reasons for why life is worth living only scratch the surface. As you navigate your journey, you’ll find your own unique reasons that will fuel everything you do.
If you’re struggling to see the purpose of life right now, realize that even this feeling is a part of your journey towards a fulfilling life.
Countless people have wrestled with the same feeling, and still found a way to make their life a masterpiece.
The question “why is life worth living?” is best answered by living authentically, fully, and passionately.
You’re not gonna find purpose by sitting on the couch and feeling sorry for yourself.
You’re gonna find it by embracing the ups and downs, and embracing the struggle that comes along with a purpose-filled life.
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