Hello! I created this blog to chronicle my journey towards becoming a licensed therapist. So far, I’ve explored themes related to my experiences as an immigrant, life’s transitions, and building friendships abroad. I anticipate a more focused approach once my classes start in September. Until then, I’ll continue to let inspiration dictate the topics I delve into. With that in mind, today I’m sharing a few ideas about two fundamental aspects of our human journey.
I like to think of our journey as an intricate dance that delves far beyond the surface and expands into the essence of who we are. Life expands into a beautiful rhythm that we all sway to, a melody to which we add our unique notes, a poem that each one of us helps to write. As we continue to dance, life offers us a tapestry of emotions, a blend of fear and desire, light and shadow, woven together in the human experience.
At the core of this intricate dance, we find love and meaning.
Life without love is like navigating through a monochrome world where vibrant hues no longer exist. The absence of love can rob life of its depth and richness, leaving us disconnected, isolated, and sick. We may continue to engage in daily activities, but the overall experience is hollow.
Love is a testament to our shared humanity. It’s a force that transcends boundaries and differences. It manifests in our relationships with others and within ourselves. It fosters self-appreciation and extends empathy towards those whose experiences differ from our own. And while we may seek its warmth in all the wrong places, love only glows when it blossoms from within.
The pursuit of meaning, on the other hand, forms the foundation upon which we build our lives. The absence of purpose can transform life into a monotonous cycle, devoid of the spark that ignites passion, motivation, and fulfillment. Meaning infuses our lives with a sense of coherence and guides us through the challenges that inevitably arise at home, at work, or simply inside of our heads. When we find meaning even the quality of our struggles change. As Viktor Frankl stated, “in some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning.”
To embody a life that is meaningful and anchored in love, we must overcome the tendency to restrict our horizons due to fear of the unknown. Fear, when left unchecked, prevents us from diving deep to uncover our full potential. When we let fear inform our decisions, it paralyzes us. It makes us mediocre. It defeats us. Only when we dare to explore the light and the shadow that exist inside us, we can truly grasp the magnificence of life. Because it is not merely about existing, it’s about living with love, purpose, and a spirit of relentless exploration.
Roque Neto 