Over the past 10 days I crossed a wide range of philosophers from various walks of life. Lao Tzu, Zhuang Zi, Frederick Nietzsche, Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, Fyodor Dostoevsky , Blaise Pasal, and Voltaire. All of which had a deep and profound view on life, how to manage our energy, how to be the best versions of ourselves, be happy and fulfilled in our lives.

Blaise Pascal - Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century philosopher, was an intelligent man known for his contributions in science, mathematics, and engineering, but he believed that our default state of life was unhappiness, as he explored various philosophical ideologies and concepts in his unfinished work "Pensées," emphasizing the importance of faith in God for true happiness and meaning in life and acknowledging the challenges in finding absolute truth due to our limitations and biases, ultimately highlighting the role of religion in providing meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in life.

Fyodor Dostoevsky - Fyodor Dostoevsky, a 19th-century philosopher and writer from Russia, emerged as a profound thinker who emphasized compassion, self-growth, and finding balance between rationality and emotion in life. His belief in embracing all experiences, understanding the human capacity for evil, and accepting the interconnectedness of suffering and pleasure contributed greatly to existentialism and influenced thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche. Through his philosophical insights, Dostoevsky advocated for leading a virtuous and meaningful existence that seeks fulfillment and happiness.

Sigmund Freud - Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist and professor, is considered the father of psychoanalysis, a method of understanding and helping individuals by exploring their unconscious mind and past experiences. He believed that human behaviour is driven by unconscious desires and instincts, and developed the concept of the id, ego, and superego as components of the human psyche. Despite controversial views, Freud's ideas have greatly influenced modern society, particularly his concept of the pleasure and reality principles, where balancing immediate gratification with long-term goals is key to personal development and decision-making.

Carl Jung - Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, was one of the most influential psychologists in history, who emphasized the importance of voluntary self-sacrifice, simplicity, merging the outer and inner worlds, interpreting dreams, and understanding our soul to find peace, purpose, happiness, and fulfillment in life.

Frederick Nietzsche - Fredrich Nietzsche, a 19th-century philosopher, poet, and author, was born in Germany and grew up in a religious community, but later isolated himself in the Swiss Alps to write his most profound works on philosophy and life; his beliefs included criticism of Christianity and alcohol, advocating for authenticity, balance, personal growth, and the pursuit of happiness through the constant pursuit of self-improvement.

Zhuang Zi - Zhuangzi, an ancient Chinese philosopher, offers a profound perspective on the Dao, life ideologies, and the pursuit of balance through understanding and learning, emphasizing the principles of Wu Wei and alignment with the ever-changing nature of reality to find contentment and authentic happiness within ourselves.

Lao Tzu - Born in the 5th century BC, Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher and writer who is believed to have authored the book The Tao Te Ching and founded Taoism, has left a profound impact on our understanding of life and the universe, with his teachings emphasizing the importance of balance, neutrality, and finding happiness through simplicity, patience, and compassion.

All of the philosophers had incredible perception of life and all had profound ideas about questions to ask of reality. One who did and had stood out to me for a great period of this search for happiness is Lao Tzu. His metaphor for living managing emotions like the flow of a river, allowing the river to sway and move in different directions while always gliding through unbanked and traversing fluctuations without being caught on the banks. A remarkable person and someone who had a profound view and philosophy on life.

Thanks,

Dean