When we graduate from college, we're often hit by a flood of existential befuddlement. We don't really have a way to organize our thoughts on what makes for a Good, hearty life. We often either trick ourselves into a much-too-simple one-note strategy (maximize money and all will be okay; maximize stability and all will be okay; maximize experience and all will be okay" etc.) or lull ourselves into a nothingness strategy ("What feels good?" "You do you, man, you do you!" "What would a person like me do?" "Who *am* I?").
But I think there's a better way, which is to try to think about how we're doing in a plurality of Life Modes and do our best to be strong in our own way in each. Here's a few Life Modes that I have seen people tap into to organize their life:
Cause: Pushing the world in a direction. Examples include fighting climate change, disrupting the housing market with your start up company, or getting more people to join your church. The key question is, "What is my cause that I want to fight for and what can I be doing now to fight for it?" The struggle is waking up everyday and mustering the will to keep pushing a not-easily-pushed world in a direction, while also making sure your direction remains a good direction.
Craft: Honing a tool over time. Examples include chefs who hone their sushi, classical guitarists who hone their fingerpicking, teachers who hone their teaching. The key question is "What is the craft that I want to be a wise expert at and what can I be doing now to hone it?" The struggle is returning to the same thing over and over again, knowing that you have miles ahead of you while taking tiny steps in the here and now.
Experience: Adventure and exploration, both physical and mental. Examples include visiting new places, learning new things, trying new things. The key question is "What are areas I want to explore and what can I be doing to start exploring them?" The struggle is continuing the spirit of exploration and not letting unhealthy amounts of fear and satisfaction get in the way.
Role: Honorably playing your part in a relationship or community. Examples include: Being a good father, being a good citizen, being a good daughter, being a good leader, being a good teammember, being a good neighbor, being a good friend. The key question is "What roles do I care to honorably steward and what can I be doing to honorably live up to those roles?". The struggle is being there for others and standing upright through thick and thin, even when the relationship is driving you mad, while also making sure your role and relationship is a living thing (and not rigidifying into some inflexible going-through-the-motions or, worse, some negative thing you need to get out of).
Art: Articulating the inarticulate for others. Examples include: Music, Poetry, Personality, Style, Whimsy... you know, art. The key question is "What are some unarticulated messages that I want to articulate and what can I be doing to reflect on them and articulate them?" The struggle is finding the time and focus to: sit with the spirit and feel something real; process that into something you have an insight of understanding into; and transmit that insight into an articulation others can experience.
The modes of thinking about organizing life -- Cause, Craft, Experience, Role and Art -- have helped me a lot. Hope they can help someone out there, too!
