56 - "The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living"

Are You Living on Autopilot? A Practical Guide to the Examined Life

A person standing at a crossroads, looking at their own reflection in a pool of water, symbolizing self-examination and choice.

For the first five years of my career, I was a ghost. I woke up at the same time, drove the same route to an office I didn't love, did my work competently, and came home. My weekends were a blur of errands and TV shows. I was moving, breathing, and functioning, but I wasn't truly *living*. I was on autopilot, letting my life happen *to* me.

https://ferricoquotes.blogspot.com/2025/05/56-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living.html

The wake-up call came during a simple performance review. My manager asked, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" I had no answer. I had never stopped to ask myself what I truly wanted, what brought me energy, or if the path I was on was one I had actively chosen. I was just following the path of least resistance. The silence in that room was terrifying; it was the sound of a life being unlived.

That moment forced me to confront the profound truth in Socrates' ancient warning:

"The unexamined life is not worth living."

This isn't an abstract philosophical puzzle; it's a practical instruction for taking back control of your life. It's the difference between being the driver and being a passenger in your own journey.

The Danger of the Autopilot Life

Living an unexamined life means you are running on a script written by others: your upbringing, societal expectations, and daily routines. It's comfortable and requires little effort, but it comes at a steep cost.

  • You drift away from your true self. Your daily actions become disconnected from your core values.
  • You lose your sense of purpose. Days blend together without meaning because you're not steering toward a chosen destination.
  • You wake up with regret. One day you look back and wonder, "How did I get here, and is this all there is?"

How to Start Examining Your Life: The 15-Minute Weekly Review

Self-examination doesn't have to be a monumental task. It can be a simple, consistent habit. Here is a practical framework you can use for just 15 minutes every Sunday to take your life off autopilot.

Ask yourself these three questions and write down your honest answers:

  1. The "Peak and Valley" Question: What was the single best moment of my week (my peak), and what was the single worst moment (my valley)? This helps you identify what energizes you and what drains you.
  2. The "Alignment" Question: Did my actions this week align with the person I want to be? If not, where was the disconnect? This measures your integrity and keeps you accountable to your own values.
  3. The "Next Step" Question: What is one small thing I can do next week to create more peaks and fewer valleys? This makes your reflection actionable and ensures you are consciously designing your life, one week at a time.

Conclusion

An examined life is not about having all the answers. It's about being brave enough to ask the questions. It’s about consciously and deliberately choosing the life you want, rather than passively accepting the one you have.

Taking 15 minutes a week to reflect won't just make your life more interesting—it will make it your own.

What is one question you could ask yourself this week to live more intentionally? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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