Do you make the difference between living and just surviving ?

Living for me means being at peace of whatever I have or don't have. Surviving means struggling to live... to even find the simplest meaning of what life is all about, despite a luxurious and elegant lifestyle. I see both terms as one's attitude towards life and it's one's choice whether to live or survive.

I used to "think" that my life was just hanging by a thread, barely surviving despite the fact I have a very comfortable life with regards to food, shelter and clothing... but later on I realized it was my attitude that I needed to alter. Since then, I began living...

"Change your mind and you change your world".

Living and surviving are two different things and they do imply a certain material value. Now if you had said living and existing then that's different. Some people have a purpose, meaning and goals in their life. They live their life for themselves and for other people. Other people just watch time pass them by and go from one day to the next with little care and are apathetic towards life, They are just existing.

So living and surviving and living and existing are different. I am not just "surviving" but I am not "living" either. I would say I am existing more often than anything else. I do try to make myself a better person and improve myself, my life and set a goal and I do believe I have a purpose but my actions are more existing than living.

Am I satisfied with my life at the end of the day? I am content. Am I tired and wish it was over? No. I'm a realist and I don't think the world or anyone in it owes me anything. I know life is not "fair" I am the one who has to make my life good. I am it's author and I know this.

I think it is more of an internal factor like you said rather than a secularist factor. Notice in Buddhist or Hindu countries, prozac does not exist, us americans are stupid in a sense. we rush and rush and want and want and get disappointed and drive ourselves literally crazy to the point where we need medication. i think you truly live when you set higher standards as far as friends are concerned versus material goods. however some people can have material goods and still "live." i like the idea of striving towards the Good which Socrates advocated for.

I am not only Living,

I am Thriving because we choose to embrace Life

at the end of the day is elation

living unless your in a 3rd world country then surviving

Im living by playing sports, video games, getting girls, partying.. in general fun from action and reading, media etc is living

Surviving, i eat healthy exercise and dont do stupid thing which coudcould result in me dying.

When you truly live you work towards peace, when you're merely surviving you pretend it doesn't matter.

"He who is without morals and wisdom does not live, but spends a long time dying."

-Democritus