# The Philosophy I Choose to Live By #

Daily writing prompt
What’s a personal mantra or philosophy you live by?

Hello, dear friends,

I hope this Blog finds you in a cheerful mood.

Today’s writing prompt question is very interesting as I read:

“What’s a personal mantra or philosophy you live by?”

We all carry a philosophy of life, even if we have never written it down. Sometimes it comes from our parents, sometimes from difficult experiences, and sometimes from the quiet lessons life teaches us along the way.

For me, my philosophy is simple:

“Be Happy. Be Active. Be Focused. Be Alive.”

Four simple thoughts—but together, they have become my compass for living.

Happiness does not mean that life will always be comfortable or that every day will bring good news. Life has its share of disappointments, uncertainty, loss and unexpected turns.

But I have learned that happiness is often less about what happens to us and more about how we respond.

A morning walk, a cup of tea, a conversation with someone we love, a beautiful painting, a good book, or simply watching the sky can become a reason to smile.

“Happiness is not a destination; it is a way of travelling through life.”

I try to notice these little moments instead of waiting for some big event to make me happy.

Retirement taught me an important lesson: retirement from a job should never mean retirement from life.

After leaving banking, I discovered new versions of myself. Writing became a daily habit. Painting became meditation. Sketching became a new challenge. Walking, yoga, table tennis, photography and travel keep both my body and mind engaged.

Being active is not necessarily about doing something extraordinary. It can simply mean learning something new, meeting people, helping someone, creating something, or taking a walk instead of sitting and worrying.

“As long as we keep moving, life keeps opening new doors.”

Life offers us countless distractions. We can spend hours worrying about yesterday or imagining what might happen tomorrow.

But the present is where our real life exists.

I have learned to focus on what is within my control and give less energy to things I cannot change.

Whether I am writing a blog, working on a painting, practising a sketch, playing table tennis or planning a journey, I try to give that moment my attention.

Focus does not mean having a perfect plan. It means knowing what matters and taking the next small step.

“You do not have to see the whole staircase; just take the next step.”

Perhaps this is the most important part of my philosophy.

Growing older has made me more conscious of the value of time. Every morning is a gift. Every conversation can become a memory. Every journey can teach us something. Every new skill can make us feel young again.

I don’t want merely to count my years. I want to make my years count.

That is why I continue to write, paint, travel, learn, laugh, experiment and dream.

Being alive means remaining curious.

It means saying “Why not?” sometimes instead of always asking “Why?”

My mantra does not promise a life without problems. Instead, it reminds me how I want to face those problems.

Be Happy—appreciate what I have.

Be Active—keep the body and mind moving.

Be Focused—give my energy to what matters.

Be Alive—embrace each day with curiosity and gratitude.

Perhaps, ultimately, our personal philosophy is not something we simply speak about. It is something we practise every day.

“Life is short, but it becomes meaningful when we fill it with purpose, people, passion and gratitude.”

So, if someone asks me today, “What is your personal mantra?”

I would smile and say:

BE HAPPY… BE ACTIVE… BE FOCUSED… BE ALIVE.

Because I believe the goal of life is not merely to grow older.

It is to keep growing—until the very end.;



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16 replies

  1. What a beautiful and inspiring piece, Verma ji! 🙏

    Your mantra—”Be Happy. Be Active. Be Focused. Be Alive.”—reads like poetry, but lives like a practical guide for everyday life. What touched me most is how you’ve shown that these aren’t just lofty words; they are choices you make daily—through your writing, painting, sketching, yoga, and your openness to new experiences.

    Your line, “Retirement from a job should never mean retirement from life,” is something I will carry with me. It’s a powerful reminder that our best chapters can begin after we close an old one.

    I also loved: “You do not have to see the whole staircase; just take the next step.” So simple, yet so profound. And your reflection—”I don’t want merely to count my years. I want to make my years count”—is the kind of wisdom that comes from truly living, not just existing.

    Thank you for sharing your philosophy with such honesty and warmth. You’ve reminded us that a meaningful life isn’t built on grand gestures, but on small, consistent choices made with purpose and gratitude.

    Keep writing, keep painting, keep moving—and keep inspiring. 🌸

    Be Happy… Be Active… Be Focused… Be Alive. Truly a mantra worth living by.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much for such a beautiful and thoughtful response, my dear friend. 🙏❤️ Your words have touched me deeply.

      I’m especially happy that the idea of “retirement from a job should never mean retirement from life” resonated with you. I truly believe every new chapter gives us an opportunity to learn, create, explore, and rediscover ourselves.

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  2. Beautifully expressed, Verma ji 🤍 I especially love the thought that retirement should never mean retiring from life. Staying curious, active and open to new experiences truly keeps life meaningful. 🦋✨

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for your thoughtful words! 🤍 I completely agree—retirement is not the end of the journey, but an opportunity to rediscover ourselves and explore life with fresh curiosity. Staying active, creative, and open to new experiences keeps the heart young.

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  3. Thank you much for this inspirational blog; your wisdom always inspires me for the better

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Living by a conscious personal philosophy is where true inner strength and clarity begin! 🌟✨ Grounding ourselves in intentional values, continuous learning, and mindful reflection keeps both mind and body balanced amidst life’s rapid pace. Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful, inspiring perspective! 🌿🧘‍♂️💙

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for your thoughtful and beautifully expressed words. 🙏🌿 I completely agree that a conscious philosophy gives us an inner compass when life becomes hurried or uncertain. Continuous learning, gratitude, reflection, and living with intention help us stay connected with ourselves.

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  5. Verma ji 🙏 Your fourfold mantra carries a deeper truth: happiness keeps the heart open, activity keeps life flowing, focus gives it direction, and aliveness keeps the spirit awake. The real wisdom is not merely to speak these words, but to embody them each day. When life is lived with awareness, even growing older becomes another form of inner growth.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for this beautiful and profound reflection. 🙏🌿 You have expressed the deeper meaning of my fourfold mantra so beautifully. I truly believe that these are not merely words to remember, but values to practise in our everyday lives. And yes, growing older need not mean merely adding years—it can also mean adding awareness, wisdom, gratitude, and inner growth.

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