7 Philosophies That Will Give You an Edge in Life

Having an edge in life is about knowing the “why” behind your actions. Sometimes, it is good to be reflective and watch how people handle different scenarios. You will see many lost in their thoughts and you will see many people in the same situation but some always feel miserable, and others feel happy and in control. The more you understand the “why” behind your situations and reactions, the easier you can tackle challenges head-on. Below are 8 philosophies that will give you some advantages in life.

1. Over-estimating Your Thoughts and Under-estimating Your Actions Are The Quickest Ways to a Miserable Life

Naturally, your intuition will always tell you what to do but will not tell you the reason. Similarly, your ego will give you the direction to go while giving you lots of reasons for doing so.

It is common to overestimate our capabilities; for instance, research has shown that more than 80% of drivers rate themselves as above average which is statistically untrue. This is also similar to the way people assess their skills and cognitive capabilities.

The real issue arises when people due to incompetence make incorrect decisions and draw wrong conclusions but cannot realize their errors. This is caused by their lack of awareness and the consequences can be serious.

2. It’s Better to Hurt Someone By Being True to Yourself Than Being Nice While Smothering Your Own Self-expression

In our daily lives, we will encounter and absorb unrealistic expectations from the people and the media- They dictate how we should look and how our relationships should be.

This is the reason why our social media profiles indicate who we should be and not a reflection of who we are. So, rather than allowing fear to drive your self-expression, you should learn to accept yourself for who you are.

3. An Imbalanced Body Will Always Contribute to Unnecessary Anxiety and Steal Your Energy

One of the ways to maintain harmony in your body is to avoid stimulants. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Nutrients reveals the adverse effect of energy drinks consumption on health. Though such substances are mental and physical enhancers they can quickly aggravate some existing health conditions, including cardiovascular and arterial hypertension. You need to maintain a balanced system to maintain your mental clarity and a healthy body.

4. Many People Will Be Doing Seemingly Better Than You at Any Given Moment

It is easy to feel low after comparing yourself to others in terms of accomplishment but the truth is; that we are all on different paths. What others are doing to better their lives has nothing to do with you.

Since we are all facing different kinds of obstacles, others should serve as our sources of inspiration. If you find yourself feeling low as a result of comparing yourself with people, you should put blinders on and get back to doing things the right way. Constantly comparing yourself to others can damage your self-esteem, and harm your mental wellbeing.

5. Thinking Deeply About Yourself Will Make You Insecure

One benefit of thinking deeply about yourself is that it gives you more control but in the long run, you may end up becoming insecure. Instead of thinking too deeply about yourself, think about things that will improve your life and the lives of those around you. Lots of research points to the fact that helping others drives more satisfaction in the long run. This does not mean you should not think about your present and future circumstances, but when you become obsessed with yourself, you will likely tend toward a perfectionist.

6. Life Gets Easier When You Expect it to be Difficult.

It’s all about the mindset- People who don’t expect life to get easier often find it easier to tackle challenges and achieve great results. We are constantly let down by the people we care about and that is because we have high expectations of them. We can’t expect people to do everything we want from them and we should not be displeased when they let us down. Bridging the gap between expectations and reality means, trying to be independently-minded and not rely on people for everything.

7. Stop Worrying About the Ideal Career

Instead of switching from one career to the other, why not focus on completing the things you start? While career planning and indecision may seem to be the reward of stress and career exploration, you should rather focus on doing one thing at a time instead of trying to be a “Jack of all trades”.

A 2022 research has shown that career indecision can lead to physical and cognitive anxiety and decline. Career indecision has also been linked to career stress.

Conclusion

It makes sense to allow our actions to be guided by rational thinking. We need to learn to take calculative risks when pursuing a goal, it helps us avoid many troubles and we end up living a more fulfilling life.