Create a life beyond life.

Author: Liu Yong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-11-01
Features: Everyone is ordinary and equal when they enter this world, and we all start from this "flat" point, striving to transcend ourselves. Besides the soul bestowed by nature, each of us also has a soul created through effort—that is, our "philosophy of life, values, and worldview." It is like the North Star, always guiding the navigator. When we are confused or unable to decide, it strikes us with the realization: "This is your philosophy of life, your principle for dealing with the world. What are you hesitating about?" It can even lift us up when our soul seems on the verge of death.
Here, I want to tell young friends in their teens or twenties not to think you are too young. From my own experience, I know that a book read or a few words heard in childhood, if well-considered, can become the strength that supports you for a lifetime, even calling to you in your old age: "Stand up, and start again!"
Today's young people may receive too much care and have few opportunities to give back, leading to a sense of disorientation and confusion about the meaning of life and the value of existence. Alternatively, they may be pushed too hard by teachers and lose their "inherent drive," making it easy for them to slack off once the pressure is gone. Even more frightening is that, due to inner emptiness, many young people develop early thoughts of detachment or cynicism about the world.
The Art of Creating a Life Beyond the Ordinary was written specifically to address these issues. It is the result of my own inner struggles from childhood to adulthood. Since these "life philosophies" have guided me through many difficult years and continue to inspire me today, they should also help other young friends navigate the confusion of life. I must emphasize that I am ordinary, with all the weaknesses of an ordinary person. Therefore, this book is not a holy scripture nor an example to follow, but rather a reference offered by an ordinary person to other ordinary people. Precisely because I am ordinary, I can view the world of ordinary people from an ordinary perspective and share my attempts to "transcend the ordinary."