Why we long for great deeds but do nothing

It's easy to have the thought while watching a series like One Piece or a movie series like The Lord of the Rings looks that, if only you lived in such a world, you would do everything you could to become as strong and impressive as all the characters you see there.

The fact is, however, that the vast majority of the inhabitants of all these fictional worlds are also just the absolute average, even though they know exactly what enormously impressive abilities the few of them have developed.

So what makes us believe that we would be so much different if we lived in these fictional worlds?

In principle, it's no different to our real world. There are people who achieve incredible things and despite knowing this, we manage to convince ourselves that this is not how things work in our world and that we might as well have smaller dreams and less ambition. Now there is nothing fundamentally wrong with having smaller dreams, it is just that we are lying to ourselves that is problematic.

For me, this realization was one of the big motivators why I decided to strive for more, not to be content with leaving my potential untouched and never finding out what I can and cannot do.

But why do we agree to willingly limit our potential in the real world while admiring the grand ambitions of all the heroes? How can we be so sure that we would do things differently if we only lived in their fantastic worlds?

The answers to these questions are not so easy and, above all, they are uncomfortable. What's more, everyone ultimately has to find them for themselves. Fortunately, however, we can find countless concepts, principles, comparisons and world views in the world of philosophy to help us. If you have been on our blog more than once, you will have already come across some of them. Let's take the following three examples:

Daoism

Daoism, a philosophical and religious tradition originating in China, offers a unique perspective on the concept of individual potential and the meaning of ambition. According to the Daoist view, the Way (Dao) is the fundamental principle of the universe that keeps everything in natural order. Rather than focusing on the achievement of extraordinary abilities or the pursuit of fame and recognition, Daoism emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with the Dao. This means surrendering to the natural flow of life and living a life that is free from unnecessary desires and artificially created ambitions. Daoism teaches us that true contentment and harmony are achieved by accepting our own ways and appreciating life in its simplest form.

We have a basic article about Daoism for you here.

Existentialism

In contrast to this is existentialism, a philosophy that has gained much prominence in the modern era, particularly through thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Friedrich Nietzsche. The core of existentialism is the emphasis on individual freedom, choice and responsibility. This approach asserts that people are inherently without purpose or meaning and that it is up to each individual to give meaning to their lives through personal choices and actions. In the context of our desire to live in fictional worlds and be extraordinary, existentialism asks us to take responsibility for our own lives and actively strive for a unique and authentic expression of our being. Rather than dreaming of being great in another world, existentialism encourages us to recognize and embrace the challenges and opportunities of our own reality.

You can find out more about existentialism and how it is misunderstood here.

Epicureanism

Epicureanism, named after the Greek philosopher Epicurus, is a philosophy that regards the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good in life. However, contrary to what many believe, Epicureanism does not preach uncontrolled devotion to sensual pleasures. Rather, it is about living a life characterized by the avoidance of pain and the achievement of peace of mind. Epicureans believe that true happiness is achieved through simple pleasures, friendship and contemplation of the world. In relation to our longing to live in fantastic worlds, Epicureanism teaches us to find and appreciate the beauty and pleasure in the simple things in life, rather than striving for unattainable goals that ultimately fail to bring us the satisfaction we crave.

In this article you will learn more about Epicurus' path to happiness.

You see, these philosophical approaches offer different perspectives on life and our role in it. They teach us that the longing for an extraordinary life in a fictional world may reflect a certain dissatisfaction with our own existence. By opening ourselves up to these philosophies, we can begin to find our own way and live a more fulfilling life in our own real world and even accomplish great things.