Is your life just exhausting again? Maybe the Einstein principle will help you out …
Health problems, people in the immediate vicinity who make everything bad, far too little time to fulfill your own desires and longings or just a persistent, almost unbearable feeling – in some phases of life it is damn hard to get up in the morning and feel motivated to look forward to the challenges that await us. Fortunately, there are different means and strategies to get such episodes behind us – and one of them comes indirectly from the epitome of human genius: Albert Einstein.
A groundbreaking decision
Einstein, who is best known to most as the founder of the theory of relativity, has, in addition to his research in theoretical physics, thought a lot about everything – including the meaning of life, the role of humans and happiness. For example, even though he was born in the 19th century and lived mostly in the first half of the 20th century, even from today's perspective, this man had almost modern and progressive views on abortion and homosexuality. In other words: The guy had a lot to say beyond physics! The following quote certainly didn't slip out of his mind.
Our most important decision is whether we consider the universe a friendly or a hostile place.
Whether we have children or can do better without them, whether we study or do an apprenticeship, whether we live in a big city or prefer to live in the suburbs – according to Einstein, all of this is obviously not as important and life-determining as the question of whether the world is friendly for us or whether it is is hostile. Especially the people who have never faced it (which most probably are) will now think for sure: Huh …?!
That's behind it
Ultimately, behind the two options formulated by Einstein are two opposing, fundamental attitudes towards life with far-reaching consequences.
- I consider the universe a friendly place: "The universe is designed so that I can be a part of it. Life is sometimes difficult and in general I have no idea what to do with it, but on the whole it's a huge stroke of luck and I want as much as possible take away and understand. "
- I consider the universe to be a hostile place: "My life and happiness are constantly threatened from the outside, I have to defend it well and be on my guard so that I don't become a victim. To be on the safe side, I prefer to build a few walls around me and don't dare to too often out. "
You could also say that the first attitude stands for optimism, the second for pessimism. But to really make a concrete decision, such terms are too abstract – that is why Einstein recommends the way across the universe to get around them Decision of principle hold true.
And if you are now (deep in your crisis) considering opting for the second option, meaning that the universe is a hostile place: Do you think Einstein would have been so interested in it and explored the world if he had seen it as a threat …? And he was a genius after all!