This quote, “What we do to survive is often different from what we may need to do in order to live,” implies a fundamental difference between mere survival and truly living. Survival refers to the basic and primal activities we engage in to ensure our existence – eating, sleeping, working to earn money for sustenance, and so on. Living, on the other hand, is a much broader and deeper concept. It encompasses not just our physical needs, but also our emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs. It includes our relationships, our passions, our dreams, our sense of purpose, and our personal growth.
In other words, survival is about doing what is necessary to stay alive, while living is about doing what makes life meaningful and fulfilling. Often, these two aspects may not align. For instance, one might be stuck in a job they dislike just to pay the bills – that’s survival. But pursuing a passion or a dream, even if it doesn’t guarantee financial stability, can be what it means to truly live.
In today’s fast-paced, highly competitive world, many of us are caught up in the race for survival – working long hours, constantly stressed, and barely having time for anything else. We might be physically surviving, but are we truly living? Are we nurturing our relationships, pursuing our passions, taking care of our mental health, and growing as individuals?
This quote, therefore, serves as a reminder to not just focus on survival but to also make room for what truly matters to us. In terms of personal development, it encourages us to step beyond our comfort zones, to take risks, and to prioritize our personal growth and happiness over mere survival. It’s about finding a balance between our need to survive and our desire to live fully and meaningfully.
