Form vs Function

Louis Sullivan once wrote:
"It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic,
Of all things physical and metaphysical,
Of all things human and all things super-human,
Of all true manifestations of the head,
Of the heart, of the soul,
That the life is recognizable in its expression,
That form ever follows function. This is the law."

Life is a work of art. Most perfectionist, intelligent, creative-types like me share this opinion. In my past years, I spent most of my energy chiseling out different personas of myself. One for each aspect of my complicated personality. Each one tagged with a label (“son”, “actor”, “engineer”, ”boyfriend“, ”ivy-leaguer“) to make it easier for others to understand me. Each one minimizing the constant battle between my deep-rooted beliefs and my conscious actions. Each one based primarily on my distorted misconceptions of human nature and devoid of my own needs and desires.

During times of weakness, when my vulnerabilities overwhelmed my sensibilities and I was forced to unmask my true nature, I came to the following conclusion:

There is life the way I see it. FORM.

Then there is life the way I live it. FUNCTION.

Prioritizing function over form has definitely helped me discover and focus on my personal needs. As a note, many successful people share this philosophy.

Living by form means embracing sights, sounds, reactions, perceptions, games, money, jargon, and jokes needed to pass the time.

Living by function is embracing all of the actions, steps, instructions, analysis, regimens, diets, habits, hormones, feelings and traditions needed to create a fulfilling life.

Living a life of form we make assumptions.

Living a life of function we make conclusions.

Living a life of form we make mistakes.

Living a life of function we have misunderstandings.

Living a life of form we give into infatuation.

Living a life of function we give into love.

Living a life of form we focus on those who care about us.

Living a life of function we focus on those who we care about.

Living a life of form we create and destroy.

Living a life of function we maintain.

Living a life of form we ask “Where am I going?”

Living a life of function we ask “How do I get there?”

Living a life of form we ask “Who can help me?”

Living a life of function we ask “Why would he help me?”

Living a life of form we ask “When am I going to leave my job?”

Living a life of function we ask “Why am I still working here?”

Once we decide to prioritize the function of life over form, we start to take action by challenging, interacting and engaging the people and events around us. Through experience, we get a better sense of our strengths and weaknesses as well as our place in the world. We start taking responsibility for our actions and build the emotional fortitude necessary to move forward. Furthermore, we build confidence within ourselves, earn respect from others, and learn how to nurse our dreams to the point where we actively change the world around us.

However, it all starts with the willing sacrifice of shutting out those sensory distractions long enough to truly understand our psyche.

3 comments:

Vinod Patil said...

There is only one way to get true love in this world. And that is through divinity. When you drop all your ego, desires, lust, anger etc. and meditate it brings the permanent joy.

Spiritual Abhay said...

Very Nice post, I liked it. I will defiantly share it with my friends on Facebook. thanks again.

Priyanka from the Gathering said...

This was quite an interesting piece to read :)
'Living a life of form we know something exists beyond the illusion we've created;
Living a life of function we start our journey searching for answers through merely focusing on the preexisting nothingness"

 

Add to Google Reader or Homepage