I’ve been thinking about a simplistic way to think about life and its purpose.
I’ve always wondered if it is possible to quantify life in some way, and use this data to take decisions.
I’ve ended up with a flexible and configurable model of Life as a Three dimensional Graph.
The three dimensions I’ve arrived at are:
- Time
- Cumulative Learning
- Impact
Time
Simplest dimension to understand.
Common to all.
Its progression is linear and its end abrupt. A rather boring way to think about death.
Cumulative Learning
This dimension is completely configurable. A little abstract too.
The intent is to make sure it is modifiable based on who are and what you’re doing at this moment.
There are many ways to look at Cumulative learning.
Some value depth, others value breadth, and there are other ways of looking at it too.
The scale is modifiable too, where it starts and ends is up to you.
The point is, how you define the dimension, unit and scale is up to you.
Impact
Much like Cumulative Learning, completely configurable.
What you measure as Impact is up to you.
Your current salary, the no of mouths you feed, the assets you own, the no of children you teach. Each one of these are candidates.
The point is, much like for the previous dimension, the unit and scale is up to you.
That’s not all though.
As time progresses, priorities change, the second and third dimensions might change.
What mattered most at 12 might not be what matters the most at 30.
Hence, the dimensions will change.
The graph split into two different ones, with different dimensions.
Or maybe there are more splits required.
It’s your life, these are your graphs.
You define the dimensions, you define how many graphs there are.
Why do all this though?
The point of this is not to enable another inlet for criticism into your life.
The point is to create a personal and measurable model.
One through which you can define how you’ve lived your life so far and what you want to do with it from this point on.
The act of selecting those dimensions defines these things.
To quote Ernest Hemingway :
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”I intend to use this for my own purposes.
I hope you do too and I hope it helps.