Let go of anxiety and learn to enjoy the pleasure of free exploration
Anxiety, ultimately, stems from the fear of an uncertain future, the disappointment of failing to meet one’s own expectations, and the confusion resulting from being overly constrained by worldly standards.
We are afraid of making a wrong step and losing everything, so we keep running headlong on the preset “right track”, not daring to stop or turn, thus missing out on countless wonderful possibilities along the way.
However, when we are blinded by anxiety, life is reduced to a mechanical drudgery. The free soul is imprisoned and the courage to explore the unknown is worn away.
But if we try to break free from this shackle and turn to embark on the path of free exploration, a completely different picture will unfold gradually.
In the realm of academia, those researchers who are not restricted by established topics and conventional ways of thinking delve deeply into their studies with pure curiosity and passion. Just like Jane Goodall, instead of shrinking back due to the doubts in the scientific community about women’s field research, the hardships and uncertainties of the research environment, she plunged into the African jungles and observed chimpanzees day in and day out for decades. From their behaviors and social relationships, she uncovered a mysterious corner of the primate world, adding a significant touch to anthropology and zoology, and reaping the shock and joy brought by a brand-new understanding of life.
On the stage of art, Vincent van Gogh, beyond the coercion of mainstream aesthetics and commercial success at that time, adhered to his unique perception of colors, rural life, and human nature within himself. Fearless of his impoverished life and the incomprehension of the world, he poured out his feelings on the canvas with his paintbrush. The swirling nebulae in “The Starry Night” and the vigorously blooming lives in “Sunflowers” are all the crystallization of his breaking free from worldly anxiety and freely exploring artistic expression.
In the ordinary life of daily routine, there are also numerous joys to be found when we let go of anxiety and engage in free exploration. When we cast aside the obsessions bred by anxiety and stroll along the streets of an ancient town, chatting with veteran craftsmen on the street, watching them weave and carve stories of the years with their simple hands, or casually trying out recipes from various countries in our own kitchens, blending and innovating different flavors on our tongues, we can touch the simple yet profound texture of life and experience the fulfillment and satisfaction that free exploration brings.
To truly let go of anxiety and embrace the joys of exploration, we need to reshape our value judgment system from the bottom of our hearts, understanding that success and happiness are never defined by a single template. The meaning of life lies more in rich experiences and personal growth. We also need to cultivate the courage to face the unknown, regarding each attempt as a gift. Even failure is a stepping stone on the way to freedom and wisdom. Moreover, we should learn to cherish the present moment, feeling the authenticity of life with each breath and each step, and building up the strength for free exploration.
Only in this way can we break free from anxiety in the wilderness of life, wholeheartedly enjoy the infinite joys of exploring the unknown and creating ourselves, and let our lives bloom with unique splendor.