Embrace a lifelong plan for an epic adventure

The Adventure of Living a Better Life

The following is a transcript excerpt from Dr. Jordan Peterson’s Vision &‍ Destiny series on DailyWire+. In this​ segment from episode 5,⁢ he speaks on ⁣making your‍ life better, knowing your intrinsic worth, being a force for ‌good ⁤in the⁣ world, living in ​truth, and moving forward.

Start time: [3:47]

There ‍is a responsible adventure to your life. ‍You are‌ not ⁢all ⁤you could be, and there⁤ is pain⁤ in that. A certain amount of judgment is necessary — and even a certain amount of exclusion — because what is insufficient about ‍you, in some sense, should not be allowed to ⁤propagate further. But ⁣if it is conjoined with ⁣encouragement, ⁣you can be in a rough situation yet still discover some things about yourself that are virtuous ‌and good — ‌and actually pretty powerful. If⁣ you made those more manifest, you could dispense with a lot of ​immaturity and misery, and you could expand yourself out into⁢ life physically‍ and psychologically.

As ⁣soon as you start⁤ walking the pathway that makes things better,⁢ then things⁢ immediately become better because your whole orientation ⁣changes. If you ⁣are in a bad place but you are ⁣escaping, that is pretty positive​ — even if it is a bad place. You might think⁣ it is still bad, but it ‍is better. That⁤ is a lot better than being in ‍a bad place that‍ is getting worse. That is ⁤for sure. Because that is hell; hell is a bad place that is getting worse. ⁢So‍ if‍ you ‌take the ⁤bad place ⁢and it‍ is⁢ getting​ better,​ it ‌is‍ already not hell.

We have confused the notion of [self] ​ love with the maternal‍ instinct for ⁤an infant. Because, of course, your attitude toward an infant​ under six ⁤months is, “You are exactly ok the way you are.” There is nothing to do with an infant under⁢ six‍ months, ​in the most ‍fundamental sense, except to provide them ⁣with total care. ⁣But that is‍ not what you do to any child that ‌is⁢ older than ⁣six months. You start laying‍ down⁣ some ​criteria for becoming, ⁤for‍ improvement. We could define‍ that criteria. Take,⁤ for example, the saying, “There is nothing more perfect than‍ a baby.” That is not true if the baby is​ 14-years-old.⁤ It ‍is ⁢true if the baby is six-months-old and actually a ​baby,⁢ but ‌by‌ nine months, the child is⁣ going​ to start ⁤to interact socially.

There​ are‍ some principles that the child has to learn to abide by so that social interaction ‍is optimized. You want to⁤ replace‌ the infant with the toddler who has a certain domain of autonomy and responsibility and a ⁣certain capacity for social interaction. Then you want to replace⁤ the toddler with the young child, with the preschooler, who now ⁢can negotiate a⁢ shared social ⁢space, and you ⁣want to replace the preschooler with the older⁣ child who is now capable of taking‍ on as much domestic​ responsibility as is appropriate for that age. You want to take the infant who is entirely dependent and⁢ turn them into someone who is autonomous, then⁢ socially⁣ integrated, and then socially ⁣integrated in a ⁣manner that is ​moving ‍them towards individual responsibility. The love is not only love that is devoted to who⁢ they are at any point, ‌which is that‌ encompassing​ maternal love, but also​ the love that says,‍ “Kid, ⁣we are pretty happy you are around, but the new ⁣you is‍ going to be even better.” That is encouragement, and that‍ is part of ‍love. It is half of love — ⁢that is for sure. You⁢ want to direct⁣ that to yourself as well.

You do not⁣ want to judge who you are so harshly that you⁣ just destroy yourself and everything is cast into the pit. You want to ⁤take a look at yourself and say, “Look, ⁤you are a person among persons, and you have intrinsic worth.⁣ You have your flaws, your sins, and your domain of ignorance and inadequacy, but⁢ that does not mean you are entirely worthless.” You have a base-level value that is intrinsic worth reflective of the fact you ‌are ⁣made⁤ in⁣ the divine image, in ‍the most fundamental ‌sense. You have intrinsic worth, and that is due a ⁤certain degree of baseline​ love⁤ — but there is the ⁣ becoming problem,⁤ especially when you are young because most of you is still in the becoming phase.

So why wouldn’t encouragement ⁢be the hallmark ​of love?⁢ It’s like,⁢ “Get the hell up. Get your ⁤act together. Adopt some​ responsibility. Put your life ⁤together.⁢ Develop a vision. ‌Expand yourself beyond the ‌narrow confines that are causing your misery, and we​ think you ‍can do it.” You could do⁣ it; you⁣ should⁣ do it. The world would be better⁤ off if you ⁣did ⁢it.‍ You would ‌be doing‍ better if you ‌did it. Everything would work out better. Why would we not work to make everything work out better? ⁣You ​are the person who could do it. You tell ‍young people that and⁣ they ⁤think, no one ever told me that ⁣before in that way, ​and maybe I should ‍get my‌ act together. Then they ⁤go out and try to get their act together in some micro ways, ⁣and they think, it turned out that worked and I am less miserable.​ I⁣ could try​ doing it on a broader scale. So‍ they try that and think people seem a lot happier ​with them. They have more‌ friends,⁢ they are ‌more popular, they stand up a little bit straighter, and then away they go.

If‍ you do not believe that the human‍ being ⁣is corrupt ​and pathological in its essence ‍— which many people now seem to ​believe, or at‌ least ​some dread spirit seems to insist and people agree with it —⁢ then you could unfold all ‌those manifold ⁤possibilities that lurk⁢ within and be a force for good in‌ the world and that will be the adventure ‌of your life. A bit of a disposition on truth can be added to that as well. You should be oriented by love, the desire to care for being ⁣ and ‍ becoming, however it is manifest, to want⁤ that to turn out in the best possible ‍manner. That could be your goal: to want things ‍to ⁤turn ‍out in the best possible manner. You have⁤ to⁢ decide if that is true because people are tempted to create little hells around them‌ all the time. Don’t think that​ you ⁣necessarily​ want that because it is not that​ easy to orient yourself ⁢to that⁣ because ⁢you ⁢are bitter ​and resentful and angry. That is going to interfere with that ​vision of ‌love. You might decide, now that you have that vision, what you have ⁤as‍ weapons to clear your path or to set things in order as⁤ you move forward.​ One of the ⁢answers is, we ⁤have truth. Why? Because you want to contend with the world the way it is, obviously.

Truth⁤ is useful ‍in that endeavor.⁣ You might ask why ⁣you should not lie if you could get away with not telling‍ the truth. Why shouldn’t you just⁢ lie⁤ if you could​ get what ⁤you wanted and if you ‌could avoid responsibility? Why not lie? The first response to this is: What makes ​you so sure you want to avoid responsibility except narrowly⁢ in this⁢ moment? It is‍ not a good⁣ medium- to long-term strategy, and everyone knows⁣ it. What makes you think ​manipulating people ⁤in the short-term so you can gratify a whim is going to be a useful iterative strategy? It is not. So you can dispense with that. What do you do ⁢when you tell ‌the‍ truth ⁣instead? You predicate​ your ‍actions on an axiom of faith, which is that nothing better can happen than that which ⁢happens if⁤ you⁢ live in truth. That is a statement of deep ‌religious faith ​because the⁣ evidence for that can only be gathered as a consequence‍ of manifesting the ‌actions that are predicated upon that axiom of ⁤faith. You do not know ​until you lay it⁢ out, but you ⁢can say, “I believe that ⁢the truth will set⁢ me free.”

With‌ regard to identity, ask: Who⁢ is “me”? If ⁢you are lying, it is not you, by definition, because⁤ if ⁣you are lying, you are attempting ⁤to implement⁤ a ‌falsehood; you are attempting to falsify the world⁣ and yourself. That is what ‌a lie is. So if something happens that is good because you lied, it⁣ is ⁣not happening to you — it​ is a reward‌ for the spirit of deceit that you allowed to inhabit you. If you reward the spirit of deceit that you ​allowed⁣ to inhabit you, it will grow, ‌and I would not recommend that. That is a very bad idea. ⁣In the contrary situation, you live and speak in truth, and then things happen. They are happening to you. That is your⁢ life; that is your adventure.

One⁣ of the things that is⁣ very⁤ interesting about the truth in that regard is that⁢ it​ provides a certain optimal unpredictability. If you ⁣are ​talking to someone, being⁤ interviewed, or having a discussion ⁣with someone, you ⁤might want to impress that person. You ⁤have⁣ a little‍ vision of​ what ⁢the instrumental outcome of‍ the conversation could ‍be so that ⁣it reflects positively on some narrow conception of ​a desired future state. If​ you only say what they want to hear and what ⁢sounds impressive, you may ⁤get the‌ result but it will not⁤ be what you want — because it is predicated on a falsehood. Instead, you could just have a conversation with ‍the person, a real conversation: What do you think? Here is what I think. Do you like it⁣ or not? I don’t know ‌if you like it or not. We can talk about that‍ and talk about why. But it is‌ still what I think and that does not mean it is right, but it‌ is what I think. Then you lay ⁢that out and what⁤ happens to‌ you is what​ happens to you, and then it is unpredictable.

Imagine ​you are⁢ speaking deceitfully ⁣and instrumentally. You want something from someone. Ok, well then you are lying, so the you that receives is not you; it is ‌the spirit of deceit. You are instrumental because‍ you ⁢think that narrow ⁣vision is optimal, even though it requires ‍deceit. You can just ⁢throw that away and ⁢say what you ​think‍ — ‌carefully and judiciously, feeling out the ‍words. Then,‌ accept ⁤whatever​ happens, no matter how unpredictable. What you will find is that is ​where⁢ you ‌have adventure. Because ‌you might ask what you have ⁣to⁤ offset against the catastrophe of life. ‍Responsibility, friendship, place, ​job, career, education, all of​ that. Adventure. Is the adventure worth it? If you tell​ the truth, you will have the adventure ​of your life. That is what​ will happen. If you do not, you will have the adventure of the spirit ⁣of deceit. Those are your options.

It is a wild ride to partake in the manifestation of the reality ⁣that you can have at your fingertips. That is a⁣ wild ride. And​ it might be⁣ a ride so wild that you think, ⁤my ​God, that was something —‍ but it was definitely ⁣worth it.

To ‍continue, listen⁣ or watch​ more content ⁣with Dr. Jordan Peterson on DailyWire+.

Dr.​ Jordan B. Peterson is a clinical psychologist and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto.​ From 1993 to 1998 he served as‌ assistant and then associate‌ professor ⁢of psychology at Harvard. He is the international bestselling author of‌ Maps Of Meaning, 12 Rules For Life, ‍and Beyond Order. You⁤ can now listen to or watch his popular lectures on DailyWire+.

How does self-assessment play a role in the journey‌ towards self-improvement ‍and a better⁤ life?

A better‌ life. The journey towards self-improvement⁣ is both a⁣ responsibility and an adventure. It requires an honest assessment of oneself,‍ acknowledging one’s flaws and areas ⁤of growth, while also recognizing one’s intrinsic worth.‍ This process involves a certain ‍level of judgment and exclusion, ‍where aspects that hinder personal growth⁢ should not be allowed to​ propagate further. However, this⁣ self-assessment⁤ should‍ also be accompanied by ⁣encouragement, as it allows for the discovery of virtuous qualities and⁢ the unleashing of one’s inner⁣ potential.

Embarking on the pathway​ towards a better life immediately brings ‍about positive ⁤change. Even if one is starting from a bad place, the act‍ of ‌escaping that situation is‌ a remarkable step‌ forward. It is better ⁣to be ‍in a bad place that is improving than to remain in a bad⁣ place that is‌ only⁣ getting ⁤worse. By ⁢embracing the⁤ journey of self-improvement, individuals can‍ dispense with immaturity and misery, ⁤expanding ​themselves physically and psychologically.

In our society, ​we have often confused the idea of ‌self-love with the unconditional acceptance we show towards infants. While infants are‍ perfectly okay the way they are, children grow and develop, acquiring a sense of‌ autonomy and responsibility. They ⁤enter⁢ a phase where improvement becomes necessary, as they navigate social interactions and learn to abide by certain principles that optimize these interactions.⁤ As children mature, ⁣they⁣ transition from being entirely dependent to becoming autonomous individuals, socially integrated and⁢ accepting ⁣increasing levels of⁣ responsibility.⁢ This progression is not only a shift in external‌ expectations but also ⁣an ‌internal process of self-improvement.

Encouragement plays a crucial ⁢role in ​this journey of ⁣self-improvement. It involves ‌acknowledging one’s intrinsic worth, while also recognizing the⁢ potential for growth and becoming even better. Encouragement⁢ is an essential component of‌ love, ⁢directing individuals towards personal⁢ development and a vision for a better future. By fostering a mindset of encouragement and ⁤self-directed love, individuals can motivate themselves to take on responsibility, put their lives together, and expand‍ beyond their limitations. This process not⁤ only benefits the individual but also‌ has ‍a positive impact on the ⁤world.

While on this adventure of​ self-improvement, one needs to ⁤embrace truth as a⁢ guiding principle. Truth serves⁤ as a compass for contending with the world as it is, guiding individuals towards optimal outcomes. ​The choice⁤ to⁤ live and speak in truth​ is significant, as ​it predicates actions on⁣ an axiom‌ of faith. ⁣By living in truth, ⁢individuals align themselves with reality and avoid falsifying themselves⁣ and the world around them. Living‌ in truth, although ⁣not always easy, leads to​ a ​life that ‌is happening to ⁢you,⁤ an adventure ⁤filled with optimal unpredictability.

It is essential to recognize the power of truth ‍in shaping one’s identity and the outcomes of their endeavors. ⁢While lying may appear to provide short-term‌ benefits, such rewards are not happening to you but to the spirit of ⁣deceit‍ within you. Lying is not a fruitful ​long-term strategy, as it does ⁢not‌ lead​ to personal growth and fulfillment. Predicating actions on truth allows individuals to be true to themselves, ⁤to engage ⁣in real conversations, and to accept whatever happens as a result. This ⁢unpredictability becomes the source of ⁢adventure in one’s‌ life.

The adventure of living a better⁤ life is worth it.‍ By embracing self-improvement, ‌individuals open themselves up‌ to responsibility, friendship, personal growth, and an unpredictable journey. It is through this journey that one can become a force ‍for good in the world,⁢ manifesting the​ manifold possibilities that lie within themselves. By orienting‌ oneself with ⁢truth and love, individuals can move forward with‌ a vision of making everything work out in the best possible manner. The adventure of self-improvement⁤ is a wild ride, but it ⁢is ⁤the path that leads to a fulfilling and meaningful life.