Embracing the Impermanence of Life

We all face the reality of our mortality. Our physical bodies will one day cease to exist, and with them, our conscious minds. Our thoughts, desires, and intellectual capabilities will also come to an end, along with the effects of our actions in the world.

Some individuals may be remembered for generations—like Gandhi or historical figures who created lasting impact—but even this recognition is fleeting when viewed against the vast timeline of the cosmos. In this sense, nothing we "think" or "do" can possess permanent significance. Anything with an expiration date, including our thoughts and actions, cannot represent ultimate Truth.

Finding Freedom in Acceptance

When we genuinely understand our impermanence, it naturally leads us to important questions:

If nothing ultimately matters in cosmic terms, why limit yourself from being authentic?

“To sell your soul is the easiest thing in the world. That's what everybody does every hour of his life. If I asked you to keep your soul - would you understand why that's much harder?” - Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead.

Why try to fit into prescribed roles through compromise, deception, or self-denial?

Why place your loyalty and trust anywhere but within yourself?

Why surrender control of your life to anyone else?

“Self-sacrifice? But it is precisely the self that cannot and must not be sacrificed.” - Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead.

This realization brings a profound sense of liberation. You recognize that you don't need external validation or permission to pursue your path.

“[Dean] - My dear fellow, who will let you?” [Roark] “That’s not the point. The point is, who will stop me?” - Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead.

This perspective encourages neither sacrificing yourself to others nor expecting others to sacrifice for you. It fosters a life of integrity where your actions align with your values—creating clarity and resolving inner conflicts.

"All you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it, don't sit looking at it—walk."

Living Without Artificial Limits

When freed from societal expectations and conditioning, you can focus entirely on your authentic self. This eliminates the distractions of competition and comparison, removing arbitrary limitations on your potential.

With your mind and energy dedicated solely to what truly matters to you, excellence naturally follows. You become capable of remarkable achievement in whatever you pursue.

The Ultimate Understanding

After shedding unnecessary external influences—from society, family, and various systems—you're left with just yourself, almost unfiltered. The final step is to recognize that even this sense of separate selfhood can be transcended.

The ancient wisdom traditions express this through profound statements:

"Aham Brahmasmi" (I am Brahman)—meaning your true identity isn't the limited ego but infinite consciousness itself.

"Tat Tvam Asi" (That you are)—reminding us that the divine reality isn't separate from us; we are it.

This final insight leads to the dissolution of the perceived boundary between self and universe—what traditions call liberation or enlightenment.

In essence, there is no reason to do anything other than what keeps you free and authentic. Each breath is an opportunity to live in alignment with your deepest truth.