MY other half told me that values are fundamental in life. I couldn’t agree more.
Values shape our thinking and way of life. But, how many of us give importance to values?
Recently, we have been shaken up by the bombing cases in London.
As I was watching the news, I felt so sorry for the victims who lost their lives, and also for the families and friends who must endure the agony of losing their loved ones.
Recently, there was a case involving a teenager who was allegedly beaten in Penang. This came hot on the heels of the death of a naval cadet, also allegedly a victim of bullying.
What has gone wrong in our society until we can resort to killing? We have but one precious life.
I’ve also seen greedy people who cheat their way in life. Manipulating, cheating, telling lies are part of their agenda to grab whatever that is not theirs.
How far can they go with their misguided beliefs?
In the end, the truth still prevails. They fail to reflect on themselves. After all, self-reflection is a humbling process.
More often than not, people are too quick to pass judgment but hardly indulge in self-reflection.
The happiest person is the one who regularly does self-reflection and keeps on improving themselves. The unhappiest ones are always criticising, or disapproving of, others.
Looking down and shouting at their subordinates have become part of their lives.
Some exert their power on others under the pretext that they need to be respected. It all boils down to the values that we have acquired.
It is time to do some soul searching.
I agree with Margaret J. Wheatley, a famous American writer, who once said “without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful”.
Be honest with ourselves on how things are going and how we respond to them.
Don’t be pretentious and put on a false mask. Try to be who we are because people will find out sooner or later our true character when the mask falls.
Learn to forgive. We lose nothing by being forgiving.
Let bygones be bygones. Everyone makes mistakes.
At times, it is enlightening and empowering to just reflect on ourselves.
Sumati Muniandy, Johor Baru