Get Started
Home Authors Tags

"هناك شيء طفولي في الافتراض بأن شخصًا آخر لديه مسؤولية إعطاء حياتك معنى وهدفًا"

Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins Evolutionary biologist
Translations
🇺🇸 English 🇨🇳 中文 🇪🇸 Español 🇪🇬 العربية 🇫🇷 Français 🇮🇷 فارسی 🇯🇵 日本語
Quote meaning
So, here’s the deal with that quote. It’s all about taking ownership of your own life and not waiting around for someone else to make it feel worthwhile. Think about it like this: if you’re always expecting someone else to give your life meaning, you’re never really in control, are you? It’s almost like being a child who’s always looking to their parents to tell them what to do. But as adults, we need to grow beyond that and find our own path.

This idea isn’t just modern self-help fluff. It’s got roots deep in philosophy and history. Take existentialism—Jean-Paul Sartre and his buddies were all about this. They argued that life’s meaning isn’t handed to us on a silver platter; we’ve got to create it ourselves. Sartre famously said, “Existence precedes essence,” which is just a fancy way of saying we exist first and then we find our purpose through our actions.

Let’s look at a practical example—Steve Jobs. He didn’t wait for someone to come along and say, “Hey Steve, here’s what you should do with your life.” No, he dropped out of college, dabbled in different areas, and eventually co-founded Apple. He followed his interests and passions, and look where that got him. He didn’t need anyone to give his life meaning; he created it himself.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start by exploring what you’re passionate about. What makes you lose track of time when you’re doing it? No one else can answer this for you. It’s your job to figure it out. Don’t sit around waiting for a sign from the universe or a mentor to tell you what to do. Dive into different experiences, make mistakes, and learn from them. That’s how you carve out your own meaning.

Imagine this: you’re stuck in a dead-end job that you don’t really care about. You’re waiting for your boss to notice your potential and give you a more exciting project. But what if instead, you took the initiative to start a side project that excites you? Maybe it’s something small, like starting a blog about your favorite hobby or learning a new skill. Over time, these little steps can lead to bigger opportunities and help you find a sense of purpose.

I remember a friend of mine, let’s call him Jake. Jake was miserable in his corporate job. He felt stuck and was always waiting for his manager to give him more meaningful work. One day, he decided to take a weekend pottery class just for fun. Turns out, he loved it. Fast forward a couple of years, and Jake now runs his own pottery business. He didn’t wait for someone else to give his life meaning—he went out and found it himself.

So, take a page from Jake’s book. Don’t wait around for someone else to make your life feel worthwhile. It’s your life, your journey. Be proactive. Try new things, follow your interests, and don’t be afraid to take risks. That’s how you’ll find the meaning and purpose you’re looking for. And hey, it’s a lot more fun than sitting around waiting for someone else to do it for you, right?
Related tags
Accountability Adulting Autonomy Existentialism Independence Meaning of life Personal growth Responsibility Self-discovery Self-reliance
MORE QUOTES BY Richard Dawkins
FEATURED QUOTES
Surprise me with another quote
Instagram Icon Facebook Icon X Icon Threads Icon