Coping vs. Thriving

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A while ago I decided that in my life I want to thrive, not cope.

Since then I’ve been very sensitive to areas in my life where I’m coping.

I define coping as resorting to compulsory behavior in order to manage a situation. This can be at the level of an addiction but it can be as minuscule as a morning coffee. If the morning coffee is not being enjoyed but is an unconscious necessity to get out of bed, it’s coping.

In that case I ask myself the question: “What is it about the way my life is currently oriented, that I need this in order to cope?”

Sometimes a solution is easily accessible and coping can be replaced with thriving. In other cases, it requires real patience and dedication. It’s worth it.

Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with the Pearl Earring” (1665)

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The Conscious Contrarian
The Conscious Contrarian

Written by The Conscious Contrarian

The Conscious Contrarian challenges conventional wisdom to uncover new, more attuned principles and perspectives for navigating the future.

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