Below is some of the thinking I've arrived at over the years.

Originally, this was a static text attempting to capture what I believed to be the "right way to live". As I grew older, though, I realised that was rather silly. Now, I revisit it from time to time as I reflect and treat it as a living, ever-evolving approach to life and to inner self.

With this (and many other opinions), I try to stay true to the principle of "strong opinions, weakly held" – until someone or something convinces me otherwise, of course.

2017

I got inspired and wrote down my own philosophy that (mostly) feels right even after all these years. Its central idea is distinguishing concepts that are from our perspective transient (like a human life), that are eternal (like the universe), and that are somewhere in between – since those are the most intriguing, let's focus on them more.

In essence, it refers to the experience and knowledge shared within society, passed from one person or generation to another. Some of these things are closer to transient, like how to raise children or sharpen a knife. Some are closer to eternal, like science or religion. Some are very much "in between" and closely linked to human spirit, like democracy, culture, or love.

Consequently, we can face our own mortality by investing in activities that extend beyond us and potentially even outlive us. In other words: "Embrace your temporary, limited, and imperfect nature while striving to make meaningful, lasting contributions." Or in short: "from finitude through legacy towards transcendence".

2019

I took CliftonStrengths from Gallup and it felt very much spot on! Learner came up as my top talent and its "take-action sentence" showed me how I can personally achieve "immortality".

As such, it basically reads as my life goal: "Use your passion for learning to add value to your own and others' lives."

Additionally, the sentences for my other themes form a sort of step-by-step framework on what to practically do:

  • "Keep exploring, always be curious." (Input)
  • "Create structure, and keep things organised." (Discipline)
  • "Think deeply. Think often." (Intellection)
  • "Stop, listen, and assess before taking action." (Deliberative)
  • "Use your logical, objective approach to make important decisions." (Analytical)
  • "Take ownership for the things that matter the most to you." (Responsibility)
  • "Bring intensity and effort to the most important areas of your life." (Achiever)
  • "Share your visions of a better future." (Futuristic)
  • "Help others see connections and purpose in everyday life." (Connectedness)

2024

At the end of summer 2024, I thought I could set myself guiding principles revolving around my core values. I sat down and dedicated plenty of time to formulate these. To my great surprise though, it only took me a couple of minutes. So, they are either extremely clear to my unconscious mind, or I'm way off with them.

  • Authenticity: being true to myself, speaking my mind, following my dreams
  • Reflection: writing down my thoughts, understanding self & society, taking lessons from the past
  • Learning: exploring new concepts, teaching others, honouring education & curiosity
  • Community: valuing family & friendships, building strong bonds, supporting others
  • Nature: spending time outside, admiring the views, appreciating the world

2025

Through reading and self-exploration, I've further had three important realisations that have expanded upon my earlier thoughts:

  • I used to believe I'd formulated something that could (or even should?) be everyone's foundational idea, simply because it felt so right. I've come to see, though, that it's each person's freedom and responsibility to shape their own gestalt – their own way of making sense of the world and their place in it. No one can choose for me, and I can't choose for them.
  • I'm now aware that what I put together represents my search for terrestrial meaning in the absence of cosmic meaning – an absurd attempt to grasp a purpose, a sense of direction in a universe that is silent and indifferent. Meaning only begins when humans arrive: to feel it, question and interpret it, care about it. So, in the face of the abyss, we create significance as artists of our own existence.
  • While I'm drawn to introspection and "lasting contributions", I recognise the limits of past- and future-oriented ways of living. As such, I place great importance on staying grounded in the moment – finding joy and connection in the simple, everyday here-and-now. Appreciating that life is, not why and how it is. Viewing it as a presence to engage in, not a problem to be solved.

2026

A few additional thoughts emerged, especially after I started listening to Philosophize This! by Stephen West:

  • Expanding upon my last point from 2025, this hunger for “lasting contributions” now also smells a bit of achievement culture. It isn't just about building a legacy – what remains after me. It can simply be about contribution – what becomes better while I am still here, even if it is temporary, invisible, or forgotten. Even more, an honest and loving ordinary life can be valuable and meaningful in itself, without needing any further justification. But of course, if I find myself in a position to contribute on a larger scale and believe that the contribution itself is worthwhile, I can go ahead and do it. I shouldn't feel that I need or must do it to prove myself worthy of anything, but I surely can do it.
  • My inner self is shaped both by my own agency and by my surroundings, with the two constantly interacting. As such, meaning and values are neither simply discovered nor created from nothing. Rather, I encounter deeper goods in the world around me and I either reject them or further interpret and shape them through reflection, dialogue, and action. As a result, what may be truly authentic is responding reflectively to what has formed me.
  • My inner self changes, and so do my opinions, values and sources of meaning. That mostly happens through changing circumstances, being exposed to new experiences and ideas, and reflecting often. At the same time, though, there is this faithful part of myself – faithful to people, projects and core values. It is healthy to keep those stable enough to orient me over the years, while remaining open to reinterpreting them as I evolve.

What inspires me

After diving deeper into philosophy as a subject, I've found myself particularly drawn to existentialism and some elements of stoicism.

Let me also mention several specific, insightful concepts:

If you made the connection to these – well done!