MIT Student Shares Metrics for Living a Meaningful Life

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In a personal essay, MIT student Kanna Pichappan shares their perspective on living a meaningful life, focusing on two key metrics: presence and agency. Pichappan discusses the importance of being fully engaged in the present moment, embracing vitality, and thoughtfully choosing commitments that are meaningful. They also emphasize the value of reframing obligations as opportunities, in order to maintain a sense of autonomy over one's time. The essay encourages readers to make the most of their 16 waking hours by savoring small moments of connection and finding purpose in their daily activities.

Why it matters

Pichappan's essay provides a thoughtful framework for reflecting on how to live a more fulfilling life, even amidst the demands of a rigorous academic environment. Their insights on presence and agency resonate with the universal human desire to feel truly alive and in control of one's time. The piece offers an inspiring counterpoint to the common narrative of rushing through life, and highlights the power of mindfulness and intentionality.

The details

Pichappan draws on personal experiences and pop culture references to illustrate their definition of 'more life.' They contrast the 'functional numbness' of going through the motions with the vitality of being fully present, using the example of a character from the Tamil film 'Nanban' who approached the classroom as a 'playground' rather than a 'pressure cooker.' Pichappan also discusses the importance of autonomy, encouraging readers to thoughtfully choose commitments that are meaningful rather than feeling trapped by obligations. They suggest reframing 'I have to' statements as 'I get to' or connecting tasks to larger goals.

• Pichappan first watched the film 'Nanban' when they were in middle school.