You’ve probably heard the phrase: “All the world’s a stage.” The phrase is usually credited to Shakespeare from his play, As You Like It, although similar references predate Shakespeare. Whilst not a Shakespearean authority myself, it’s widely understood that Shakespeare’s reference to “stage” is the type of stage on which one of his plays would be performed. The rock band Rush famously payed homage to the concept in 1976 on their monster LP of the same name. And it emerged again on their epic track, Limelight, where Geddy Lee belts out:
All the world's indeed a stage...
And we are merely players
performers and portrayers
each another’s audience
outside the gilded cage
Ugh, so good! Anyway, my nerdy rock geekism is starting to show. On to Mark Manson…what Manson beautifully proposes in The Four Stages of Life is, we humans live our lives in four very qualitative life stages. And, a life fully lived, will include each dynamic stage…overlapping, and not always super distinctive or totally linear.
This quick read is absolutely jam packed with info that will induce a few deer-in the-headlights moments. No spoilers, but here are just a couple of these Manson moments:
From Mark Manson's "The Four Stages of Life:
This meaning we constantly search for is literally our only psychological defense agains the incomprehensibility of this life and the inevitability of our own death.
At some point we must admit the inevitable: life is short…
…you must eventually come to the realization that your time on this planet is limited…
At first glance, these might seem to be depressing thoughts. And, initially (for some) they very well may be. But these are empowering ideas and liberating concepts. Noodling them answers some profound questions, and kind of serves to lift up the rug and clean out some of the thoughts we’ve swept away for “some day.” Precisely what letstalkaboutlifeday.com is all about.
Manson’s not a one trick pony and this article is far from his only wake-up call. Check out The Meaning of Life is a Ham Sandwich, for another tasty morsel. Oh, and Manson is also the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life. And, he runs one of the largest personal growth blogs in the world. So, yea…dude has been doing work, check him out.
In a future post, I’ll review one of Manson’s book recommends: The Denial of Death, by Ernest Becker.
Familiar with Mark Manson’s work? Care to share your impressions? Please do so in the comments section below.
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