My Honest Advice For Someone Who Wants to Live Life to the Fullest

For those who know they’re capable of more

Georgia and I took my little sister Lara to the beach last weekend.

Georgia and I always leave early to skip the traffic, and I decided this was the perfect metaphor to teach Lara a life lesson that I wished I’d learned years earlier: 

The average path that most take leads to the average result that most get. 

I first understood this philosophy when I happened to leave early and noticed there was no traffic. And again when I was travelling and walked a few kilometres outside the popular areas only to find it was less crowded and had cheaper, more authentic experiences. 

But this idea extends into every aspect of life: 

• Average nutrition leads to average health 

• Average financial discipline leads to average finances 

• Average experiences lead to uninteresting stories you could find in millions of other minds

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One of life’s greatest misconceptions is that you can only live a bad life if you succumb to addiction, crime and other sin.

The reality is: You can ruin it by being ordinary. 

Imagine getting to the end of your ONE life, and realising you didn’t put in the effort to have interesting experiences and a meaningful life. 

Imagine the pain of realising you stopped when the hill got a little too steep. You never reached the top. You just stayed at the bottom because that was easier. 

Do you want to shrug when your grandkids ask you what you did in life, or do you want to gather them around a fire and tell them about all the wonderful things you’ve seen and done?

It takes many until their deathbed to realise they’ve wasted their potential by playing simply living the average life, and by consistently quitting at the point where success begins. 

Don’t let that be you. 

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The Fruit at the Top of the Tree

A Zen Buddhist Parable 

There was once a young monk who sought enlightenment. He traveled far and wide, visiting many teachers, but despite his best efforts, he always felt like something was missing. 

One day, he came across a renowned Zen master known for his wisdom. The monk bowed deeply and said, “Master, I have been on this journey for years, yet I feel I am no closer to enlightenment. Can you help me?”

The Zen master nodded and led the young monk to an orchard filled with tall, towering trees. The trees were heavy with fruit, but most of the fruit hung low and was easily within reach. The master pointed to the highest branches, where the rarest and juiciest fruits hung. “Do you see those?” he asked.

“Yes,” the monk replied, gazing upward. “But those fruits are so high up. Why not just pick the lower ones that are easy to reach?”

The master smiled and said, “That is what most people do. They come here, see the low-hanging fruit, and take it without hesitation. It’s easy, and they feel satisfied. But if you want the rarest and sweetest fruit, you must be willing to climb to the top. It will be difficult, and you may fall or get tired along the way. But only those who persist and reach for the highest branches will taste the rarest reward.”

How to Live Life to the Fullest (Rare Rewards Come From Rare Effort) 

“As you sow, so shall you reap.” 

— Galatians 6:7

Just as the highest fruit on the tree were difficult to reach, the most meaningful achievements in life require you go that extra mile. 

If you want to live life to the fullest, you need to remember this: 

Success is on the other side of the point where most people stop. 

A few cues to keep in mind along your journey: 

• Within each task, ask: Am I going above and beyond? 

• In relationships, ask: Am I giving this above-average effort?

• For your broader life, ask: Do I have an above-average vision?

If you think this way, and constantly hold yourself accountable, you will become an extraordinary individual. 

An interesting, incredible and healthy life — is attainable to anyone who is willing to take the rare path.

Sincerely, 

eren

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