Feeling Inspired

When I think about life, I think about a lot of scary things.

Lately, existential angst has been on my mind. I can take this path or that path, but none of them feel 100% “me.” And maybe that’s because I’m still figuring out what “me” even is.

But one thing feels certain: making no choice about your path in life is the worst choice you can make.

Now, I don’t want it to seem like I think about death or question the meaning of life every day. I’ve perseverated enough.

What I’ve come to, for someone who wants to fully discover themselves (whatever that means), it looks something like this:

Step 1: Realization that life will end whether you want it to or not.
Step 2: Overwhelming fear, sadness, or confusion on how to move forward.
Step 3: Question the meaning of life
Step 4: Come to understand that there is absolutely zero meaning to life and you get to make it up for yourself.
Step 5: Make moral and character decisions and choose a world view of your own to derive meaning
Step 6: Live according to those values and create goals based on these ideas.
Step 7: Update and realign on a regular basis.

Why That Kinda Sucks (but it’s worth it)

If you’re doing it right, it will feel hard.

Someone who’s constantly discovering more about themselves is also constantly tearing apart the old version to update themselves. 

And when the path feels wrong? That’s even more painful. But the kind of person who’s still reading this—you’re probably the type who’ll go through that cycle over and over again (totally normal). That’s how we figure out what we love and build the lives we want.

The conclusion here is:

The only way to make your life great is to find purpose through searching.

Some people do that through faith, family, or work tied to a higher cause. Others choose the hedonic path or opt out of the “meaning” game entirely. And honestly—respect. Because the self-discovery path can be painful.

Here’s how I did it…

And don’t be fooled—I still know very little.

But if you’re like me, you know a few things about yourself. That’s enough to get started.

I began by making a list of my deepest held beliefs, hoping to turn them into rules I could live by. The idea was simple: if I followed those rules,  I’d become a better version of my ideal self—more aligned with who I want to be.

So, I took those things and prompted chat gpt to help articulate the beliefs I already had, but couldn’t quite put into words.

The original prompt I used:

“Can you ask me about my life and help me figure out what my deepest held beliefs are? I know some will be around doing hard things that test your physical and mental limits, something about being kind and helping other people, and probably some Buddhist ideas around suffering and the interconnectedness of humans.”

By the end of the conversation I had a really solid draft to work off of… results will vary:

Core Beliefs

• Suffering is a teacher. Enduring pain is part of the process of transformation.
• Mastery—physical, mental, emotional—is essential to identity and freedom.
• Creation matters more than consumption. I want to leave something behind that wasn’t there before.
• Connection comes from helping others grow, not from being the center of attention.
• Impermanence gives life urgency. I don’t want to look back with regret.
• Success is becoming someone I respect—not just hitting metrics.
• Most people won’t understand how I operate. That’s okay.

Motivating Forces

• A relentless urge to build skills that allow for both freedom and contribution.
• The fear of a life unlived—of dying with potential untouched.
• Deep desire to be seen accurately, not superficially.
• A need for challenge—athletic, emotional, intellectual.
• Craving for an “intellectual sparring partner” who asks as much as they share.

Tensions Being Managed

• Wanting peace but drawn to pressure.
• Wanting connection but often giving more than receiving.
• Wanting control but not needing to lead everything.
• Wanting to reframe sadness, but open to the question: is that always growth, or sometimes avoidance?
• Committed to long-term impact, yet navigating the time cost of a day job.
  

From there, I made a list of personal rules to follow which makes me feel like I know myself a little bit better.

This list is separate from my life goals, but deeply connected. Knowing my core values has helped me build goals that actually feel aligned.

Feeling Inspired

So why is the title of this blog post “Feeling inspired?”

Well, I’ve noticed that I’m inspired by authentic people. Watching somebody do the things they love and have passion for their thing is… well, inspiring.

And I may be mostly there, but putting concrete words to who I am felt like an important part of living my best life. And maybe that is meaningful to you.

One of my beliefs is that when you feel inspired, you have to act fast. That’s when the most real work gets done. 

This is self-actualization—and it feels amazing (most of the time). And I think it’ll only get better.

I hope you find yourself on this path too.

Because it means you will be happier, more fulfilled, and follow your own path. Not somebody else’s. And that’s what true freedom is.

“We question all of our beliefs except for the ones that we truly believe in, and those we never think to question.”

Thanks for reading.

-Nick