Posts by Robin Brooks6

Should you learn from your parents or...?

...the mere fact that you're asking this shows you have some critical distance, which is essential for any real learning.

My answer? Absolutely! Learn from them! Even if they’re completely out of touch, you can't just erase them from your life, so why not extract value from them?
The key, however—and I cannot stress this enough—is applying that critical distance. It is an absolute must-have for anyone trying to grow.
- You cherry-pick what works and discard everything else.

The second major issue when dealing with parents is that the more we evolve away from them—even if we become more successful or accomplished—the further apart we drift. This is much easier to handle if your parents are decent people, like mine are, where a certain level of closeness feels natural. But (again, with critical distance and looking at the long term), I realize that closeness fluctuates even with them. I am willing to pay that price if it means becoming exactly who I want to be.

A few years back, I was spiraling through those same dark thoughts. Back then, I eventually landed on this conclusion: the whole point of my life is simply to be happy.
Nowadays, I still hold that view, though my definition of happiness has evolved. I’m talking about long-term fulfillment and deep satisfaction, not just fleeting highs.
Who knows what I’ll believe tomorrow? I have a gut feeling I’ll find an even better way to look at it. 🙂

There’s a brilliant psychotherapist, Yal, who argues that you don't just stumble upon the answer to "What is the meaning of my life?" It's not some destination you reach; rather, meaning emerges indirectly through the act of living meaningfully. Speaking from experience, I couldn't agree more.

So, take a second to think about what actually excites you. What are you good at? Lean into that. Double down on it. Live with genuine passion for whatever you do!

In the meantime, here are two incredible Rilkean insights that never fail to hit me with their sheer simplicity and depth:

"I would step out of my own heart and walk beneath the infinite sky!"

And...
"Have patience with everything unresolved, and try to love the questions themselves."