It is often said that the two most important things in life are love and learning. And while there are many different interpretations of what those things mean, one thing is for sure: they both involve taking risks.
In order to love, we have to be vulnerable and open ourselves up to the possibility of hurt. And in order to learn, we have to be willing to make mistakes and put ourselves in uncomfortable situations.
Interestingly, these two important aspects of life also share something else in common: they both require us to step outside of our comfort zones.
When we step out of our comfort zones, we are stepping into the unknown. And when we do that, we are taking a risk.
However, without taking risks, we would never experience the rewards that come with them. Love and learning both involve making ourselves vulnerable to the unknown, but in doing so, we open up a whole new world of possibilities.
So next time you’re feeling scared or uncertain, remember that it’s okay to take a risk. After all, it’s how we grow and learn. And who knows? Maybe taking a few risks is exactly what you need to find the meaning of life.
In the essay “In Praise of Margins,” Ian Frazier explains the value of marginal activities. He refers to these pursuits as things you do for no apparent reason and are free to express yourself freely.Marginality may sometimes be experienced as real in the sense that while performing a marginal act, it is possible to create something. As a youngster, Frazier’s marginal environment was the forest.
In the woods, he would explore and find new things. This is where his imagination flourished. As an adult, Frazier’s marginal place is his writing desk. It is here where he does his best work and allows his mind to be free.
While most people view margins as a waste of time, they are actually essential for our well-being. In psychology, the term “flow state” or “optimal experience” is used to describe a mental state in which a person is completely absorbed in an activity. This state is often associated with heightened levels of creativity and productivity. In order to achieve this state, it is important to have some level of control over the activity and to be working on something that is challenging but not too difficult.
Flow state is often achieved during activities that are considered “marginal” because they are not essential for survival. These activities give us a sense of freedom and provide an opportunity for our minds to wander. By engaging in these activities, we can learn new things, come up with creative solutions to problems, and find new ways of looking at the world.
There, with his pals, he would pretend to be adventurers and experiment with unusual concepts. Odd notions that later proved to be learning experiences. He gives the example of riding down a trail on a bike as an adult. Frazier contends that “marginal behavior might be the most crucial kind of activity.” In fact, marginal behaviors have a positive impact on both ourselves and others around us.
They are often the things that we enjoy most in life. Frazier gives several examples of how people can benefit from marginal activities. One example is a woman who learned to quilt. She was not the best quilter but she enjoyed it and found satisfaction in the process. The women around her benefited from her hobby as well. Another example is a man who loved to tinker with old cars. He was not a mechanic but he enjoyed working on his car. His neighbors would come to him for help with their cars.
Many activities may be overlooked if viewed with the proper attitude. Marginal acts are about what you’re enthusiastic about, and they might lead to educational opportunities as well as technological innovations. Depending on our mindset, various hobbies can be considered marginal. Even though Frazier loves fishing because he has a contemporary forward thinking mentality, he does not consider it marginal exercise since he lives in an age of progress.
To Frazier, fishing is a form of relaxation and enjoyment but not an activity that will lead to anything productive. However, if we look at someone with a different mindset such as the native Americans who lived off the land, they would consider fishing a marginal activity because it was essential for their survival. The Native Americans didn’t have access to grocery stores or technology so they had to make use of every resource available to them which made fishing a marginal activity.
Different people have different perspectives on what activities are considered marginal and it all comes down to our mindset. It’s important to be open-minded when considering new opportunities because you never know where it might lead you. Who knows, maybe your next big break will come from a marginal activity that you never considered to be important.
They distinguish us from the rest of our lives and all of its stress. It aids in our reconnection with who we truly are. Making oneself a better person by giving oneself a little space or activity is beneficial to others around us by providing them with an opportunity to become better people themselves. The medical field, like pharmaceuticals, depends on marginal research conducted by scientists to discover cures and vaccines.
It is not only important to have a job, but also to have an activity on the side that can help us reflect on our lives.
Some examples of things people do on the side are:
– Writing
– Painting
– photography
– hiking
– bird watching
– playing an instrument
– taking care of animals
These are just some examples, there are many other things people can do! It is important to have at least one thing that we are passionate about outside of our everyday lives in order to lead a fulfilling life.
In the same manner, the technology will be developed by people who are inspired to create something new. Why should we not use our existing capabilities for betterment? It might lead to a learning experience or, even better, a new way of thinking. After all, knowledge is power.
In the movie “Meaning of Life” one of the most memorable scenes is when Graham Chapman’s character tries to explain to his son the meaning of life. In the course of this explanation, he gives several examples of how different aspects of life can be viewed as either a positive or a negative.
One example he gives is that of a seesaw. On one side of the seesaw is a heavy weight, representing all the problems and hardships in life. On the other side is a light weight, representing all the good things in life. The seesaw balances out these two weights so that overall, life is in equilibrium.
However, what if there was no light weight to balance out the heavy weight? This is what happens when someone has a “margin of life” that is too small. The heavy weight of all the problems and hardships in life becomes too much to bear, and the person ends up feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. On the other hand, if the margin of life is too large, then the light weight of all the good things in life becomes too much to enjoy. The person ends up becoming bored and unfulfilled.
The key, then, is to find a balance between these two extremes. Having a margin of life that is just large enough so that all the good things in life are still enjoyable, but not so large that the bad things become overwhelming. This is what psychology professor Rick Frazier calls the “sweet spot” of life.
So how can we find our own sweet spot? It starts with understanding what our margins are in the first place. We all have different thresholds for how much stress and hardship we can handle before feeling overwhelmed. And we also have different thresholds for how much pleasure and enjoyment we need in order to feel fulfilled. Once we understand our own individual margins, we can start working on finding a balance that works for us.
