Читать книгу Designer of life: 70 golden rules of deep transformathion. A practical guide to mindfulness. Will replace years of spiritual seeking - - Страница 17

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” – Viktor Frankl

This rule emphasizes your ability to actively shape your Life and give it meaning. There is no universal meaning that fits everyone. Each person is free to create their own, based on their values, beliefs, and aspirations. You are not just an observer in this world – you are its co-creator. Every thought, every internal belief shapes the reality around you. Doubt destroys, while faith creates. If you believe something is impossible, it will be. If you believe that doors are open, they will begin to open for you.

This rule resonates with the ideas of existentialism, a philosophical movement that emphasizes free will and personal responsibility. According to Viktor Frankl, author of the famous work Man’s Search for Meaning, the search for and discovery of personal meaning is a key factor in psychological resilience. Frankl, having endured the trials of concentration camps, noted that people who could find even a small purpose in their suffering maintained the will to live.12 These findings have been confirmed in subsequent research, which has found a direct correlation between having meaningful goals and a person’s overall level of well-being. Thus, the idea of personally creating meaning extends far beyond philosophy and is supported by scientific data – meaning is not given to us from the outside; it is born in the depths of our consciousness.

Throughout my life, at the end of each specific stage, I created a new one. For a time, I was engaged in creating fashionable clothing, putting a piece of myself into every outfit. In another period, I became passionate about creating harmonious design projects for apartments and houses, transforming the space around people and making their lives more comfortable and beautiful. Then came the time for landscape projects, where I worked on creating harmony with nature, bringing beauty and tranquility to the environment.

Recently, since 2021, I have fully dedicated myself to research in the field of mindfulness. I am now writing a book, sharing my experience and knowledge to inspire and help others on their path of self-discovery. My long-term plans include building and opening a “Center for Mindfulness,” a space where people can gain knowledge and support. After all, I already have all the necessary skills for this: I am a civil engineer, an interior designer, a landscape designer, and hold a master’s degree in psychology. Yes, each career change was a certain risk, a step out of my comfort zone, but the realization that I myself create the meaning of my life gave me strength and confidence. Each new project became not just a job, but a way to know myself better and unlock my potential.

To learn how to creatively shape your own meaning, you can use the “Creating a Meaning Map” method. This practice will help you identify your values, goals, and desires and see how different areas of your life contribute to their realization.

• Take a large sheet of paper (the bigger, the better) and colored pencils. In the center, draw a circle and write your main idea in it: “My Meaning,” “What I Want from Life,” “My Purpose,” or any other phrase that reflects your deepest aspiration.

• From the central circle, draw several arrows branching out in different directions. Each direction will represent an important area of your life. For example: “Work/Career,” “Relationships (family, friends),” “Creativity/Hobbies,” “Health (physical, emotional),” “Personal Growth/Learning,” “Spirituality/Self-Discovery,” “Finances,” “Contribution to the World/Society.” Choose the ones that are most significant to you (usually 4 to 8). Write the name of each area on its corresponding branch. Use different colors for each direction – this will help structure the information better.

• From each branch, draw sub-branches. On these, write down key values, specific goals, and desires that are meaningful to you in that area of life, using short phrases. For example:

– Area “Work” (main branch): fulfilling potential, helping people, financial stability, interesting projects, growth (sub-branches).

– Area “Relationships” (main branch): mutual understanding, trust, love, growing together, sincerity (sub-branches).

– Area “Contribution to the World” (main branch): sharing knowledge, inspiring others, creating a useful product, charity (sub-branches).

• Analyze how the different areas are interconnected. Use lines or arrows to show these connections. Write above the connecting lines what the connection is. For example:

– An arrow from “Financial Stability” (Work) to “Travel” (Personal Growth/Hobbies). An arrow from “Sharing Knowledge” (Contribution to the World) to “Writing a Book” (Creativity/Work).

• Use symbols or simple drawings next to keywords – this activates visual thinking and helps you better remember and feel the connections.

• When the map is complete, look at it carefully. Which areas are most developed? Which seem less connected to your central meaning?

• Place the map where you will see it often. Use it as a guide when making decisions, as a source of inspiration, and as a reminder of your true priorities. Remember: this map is not static; you can add to and change it as you evolve.

The rule “You Are the Creator!” reminds you that no one but you can determine what brings joy and a sense of deep significance. When you take responsibility for creating your personal meaning, you begin to look at potential paths of development differently and make decisions based on your own priorities.