Life is lovely, yet it is easy to forget that sometimes. We become trapped by habits, stuck in habitual thinking, and imprisoned within narratives we tell ourselves. The key to being in love with life is not to pursue perpetual bliss, but to foster curiosity, courage, and an open heart.
The Stories That Shape Your World
Each thought you have serves the purpose of assisting you to get through the day. Your brain distills decisions, categorizes things as "good" or "bad," and nudges you toward what is safe. You accumulate a library of story memories, beliefs, and lessons over time that quietly influence how you perceive yourself and the world.
They originate from anywhere: childhood, parents, culture, religion, education, even surprise events in life. They create your identity, choices, and relationships.
As writer Jonathan Gottschall says: "For humans, story is like gravity so constant that we hardly notice how it shapes us."
The issue? Stale stories can get you stagnant. They might be comfortable, but they can prevent you from actually feeling the fullness of life.
How Your Brain Protects You (and Holds You Back)
Your brain is wired for survival, not happiness. It filters reality so you only notice what matches your beliefs, ignoring perspectives that challenge them. That’s why conversations often turn into debates you’re unconsciously defending your story.
Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck once said: "Human beings are poor examiners, subject to superstition, bias, prejudice, and a profound tendency to see what they want to see."
This is to say, if you don't challenge your stories, you might be living in a limited bubble secure, but constricted.
The Path to Loving Life Again
So how do you break out of your bubble and fall in love with life? It begins with fearless curiosity the desire to challenge your assumptions and venture into the unknown.
George Saunders, in his book A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, reminds us that truth is often located beyond certainty. To ask more profound questions such as "Good for whom? Under what circumstances?" enables us to perceive life's underlying complexity and beauty.
Rather than holding on to what you "know," try this:
- Take a beat before judging. Ask yourself what else is possible.
- Become interested in your feelings. What are they trying to tell you?
- Find reflection. Coaches, mentors, or even friends can reflect back to you what you don't see.
When you give yourself permission not to know it all, you make room for growth, joy, and love.
Why a Coach Can Help You Break Free
Sometimes you can't help but challenge your own tales. That's where a coach is a force to be reckoned with. A good coach gives you a safe haven to look at your fears, emotions, and limitations. They assist you in revealing truths you've been hiding from and aid you in rewriting your story with new insight.
This process doesn't simply open your awareness, it opens your heart, your capacity for love, hope, and resilience. You start to notice new possibilities and live with more receptivity.
Staying in Love With Life
To fully love life, you have to be ready to take a leap of faith into the unknown. Love does not stem from knowing, but it flourishes when you accept the mystery, remain curious, and permit yourself to be surprised at the people and moments happening around you.
Loving life is easy-sounding, but also a courageous act. Remember every day:
"I don't know everything. I want to learn. I want to grow. I want to love more deeply."
That's how you remain in love with life not by clinging to it, but by remaining open.