So this is my first post in a while and of 2008, sadly I only had blogged once in 2007 and I know I keep saying I will try be more regular in my blogging but I haven't been able to. I don't believe in resolutions so I won't be making one now, lets just say I'll make a good faith effort to be more consistent.
Now with that out of the way, lets get on to the topic of the day. I've had a few things on my mind of late, primarily the role that honesty, consistency and character play in today's society. Of these words can be reduced down to the simple idea of honor. By honor I am referring to the idea of personal integrity and strength of character. A person for whom their word is their bond and who would rather make the hard and more often than not right choice over the easy and more personally beneficial choice. I've been finding it harder and harder to meet people who possess those qualities, especially in New York.
We tend to place more value, as a society and people, on the end goal and notions of success than we do on character. Honesty is a core value that needs to be foster and ingrained more into people. Honesty in word and action. The foundation of honesty towards others is to first to be honest with oneself as the root of dishonesty is delusion of both yourself and the person you are dishonest with. In order to be more honest, it would require deep introspection and analyzing of yourself, to see who you really are to discover your desires, wants, goals, strengths, issues, weakness and flaws. Honesty requires that you face all of these things and determine what if anything you wish to do about them. The hardest part is to confront your flaws and come to terms with them, either as something you need help to overcome or something you need to fight against. Raging within each of us is a desire to ignore our flaws because to confront them would mean to stare our own inadequacies in the eye and see the darkness that dwells in us. Each of us has that darkness in us, some more than others.
Too often people don't want to stare into that abyss because it is scary and depressing, it can force us to drop whatever notions of self we held before and demolish our self-conceptions. This confrontation is not a one time action but a consistent and conscious decision on our part to keep doing so because every time you keep confronting yourself, you shine a little more light and gain a stronger and rooted center. I believe this will force you to be more honest with yourself and paves the way for you to be more honest with others.
Once you are honest with yourself, the harder quality to possess is strength of character or the will to act. Knowledge without action is useless and honesty without the will to change or improve is only subjectively good. What do you do after you know confront yourself? Do you just take comfort in that knowledge and continue on? or do you delve deep and try to develop yourself and turn those flaws and issues into something that builds your character? Take the statement in Batman Begins "its not who you are underneath but what you do that defines you", as corny and cliched as it may sound it rings with sound of truth. It is our actions that define us, not necessarily what we think inside our minds. I maybe the most honest person with myself but if I don't give others the same level of respect, then fundamentally I can't call myself a truly honest or good person. Honesty and respect go hand in hand, to be honest with someone is show them respect as a being who is worthy of you. There is a saying in hindu thought "satyam vada dharmam chara" Speak the truth and act righteously. To remain true and honest to yourself and others even in the face of adversity and fear is truly courage and strength of character, that is how one should be defined. A person should be idolized not necessarily for money, skills, abilities or possessions but on their character. How do they deal with adversity and what happens to their values and truth when it is put to task? Just something to ponder about. Any thoughts?
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2 comments:
Sadly society has gone far far far away from these ideals despite how simple and true they may be. When you hear how SHOCKED people are by acts of goodwill these days it hits you in the face how much we have regressed as a society. When someone takes the time to walk an old lady across the street, she is shocked and extremely thankful..one would think that is duty but in today's society it has become more of an exceptional act than one that is dutiful.
I completely agree with your post
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