toji.
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- Oct 8, 2023
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Today's society does not reward values. It does not reward honesty, trust, transparency and virtue. However, we must understand that virtuous people do not act in search of the approval of others. On the contrary, the courageous are guided by inner peace, by the certainty that they have always acted in accordance with their principles.
I am a person who has always tried to live by values. I don't lie, I don't cheat in exams, I only use my own means to achieve my goals. I do not cheat anyone. I am someone who gives up my seat to grandmothers on public transport, who helps others when they need it. But today I understood that there is a flip side to all this. These values have come at a cost, a cost to my chances of building a happier life than the one I have now.
If I had cheated on my university exams during the pandemic, I would probably be one of the top students of my generation. If I had acted strategically, I might have won the girl who is now just my friend. If I had been less value-bound, I could have competed on an equal footing with others. And if I had been less rigid, I would have discovered my true value in this world, and why acting more flexibly can be more effective than following unwavering principles.
I am still young, I have a long way to go. But I can't help thinking that my life would have been better if I had been more flexible, more strategic, less hard on myself. Now, sitting at my desk, I reflect on my mistakes. With a certain nostalgia I look at the girl I like, aware that she doesn't consider me because of my apparent lack of courage.
Being someone with values does not guarantee that you have values. True courage lies not only in one's principles, but also in one's ability to adapt to circumstances.
Don't get me wrong: having values and principles is fundamental. But too much of anything is harmful. Learn to flow, to adapt, to be strategic when necessary, and to hold on to your values only when it is really necessary, and hold on to your values only when it really matters. What is the point of being virtuous if those values deprive you of happiness? Is idealism more important than your own well-being? Is the peace of mind that comes from following the rules more valuable than having achieved what makes you happy? I don't know. I only know that I regret not having been more flexible.
Love y'all, take care of yourselves. See you later.
I am a person who has always tried to live by values. I don't lie, I don't cheat in exams, I only use my own means to achieve my goals. I do not cheat anyone. I am someone who gives up my seat to grandmothers on public transport, who helps others when they need it. But today I understood that there is a flip side to all this. These values have come at a cost, a cost to my chances of building a happier life than the one I have now.
If I had cheated on my university exams during the pandemic, I would probably be one of the top students of my generation. If I had acted strategically, I might have won the girl who is now just my friend. If I had been less value-bound, I could have competed on an equal footing with others. And if I had been less rigid, I would have discovered my true value in this world, and why acting more flexibly can be more effective than following unwavering principles.
I am still young, I have a long way to go. But I can't help thinking that my life would have been better if I had been more flexible, more strategic, less hard on myself. Now, sitting at my desk, I reflect on my mistakes. With a certain nostalgia I look at the girl I like, aware that she doesn't consider me because of my apparent lack of courage.
Being someone with values does not guarantee that you have values. True courage lies not only in one's principles, but also in one's ability to adapt to circumstances.
Don't get me wrong: having values and principles is fundamental. But too much of anything is harmful. Learn to flow, to adapt, to be strategic when necessary, and to hold on to your values only when it is really necessary, and hold on to your values only when it really matters. What is the point of being virtuous if those values deprive you of happiness? Is idealism more important than your own well-being? Is the peace of mind that comes from following the rules more valuable than having achieved what makes you happy? I don't know. I only know that I regret not having been more flexible.
Love y'all, take care of yourselves. See you later.
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