Life Is a Dance: Alan Watts on Living in the Present

In his talk Life is Like Music, British-American philosopher Alan Watts offers an alternative to viewing life as a relentless journey toward a final destination. He likens life to music: we don’t listen to a symphony just to hear the last note; the enjoyment is in the whole performance.

Watts points out that our minds often pull us out of the present moment, pushing us toward imagined futures. We set goals and chase achievements, believing they are essential for happiness, yet this constant mental projection can distract us from what is happening right now.

While planning and ambition have their place, they shouldn’t come at the cost of experiencing the present. Life, like music—or like dance—is meant to be lived and appreciated in each step, note, and moment along the way.