"You must be the change you want to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi
My vision is universal peace, contentment, health and happiness for all people. The majority of the people I talk to are dissatisfied with their interactions and experiences with others and the general attitude of the world’s population. I firmly believe that changing the things that are wrong with the world begins with me. My own behavior must be of the highest possible quality, before I can expect others to improve, to meet my expectations. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, I must “be the change” I want to “see in the world.”
Self awareness is the key to change. Remaining open-minded in the face of criticism facilitates seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. Regardless of the implications of abstract theories of reality, what we personally perceive is our own reality. My perception is that we are living in the real world, requiring practical, contextual, real-life solutions that work. Common sense tells us to treat others as we wish to be treated, with respect and consideration.
Personally I am motivated by specific core values, which include unconditional love, loyalty, honesty, responsibility, compassion, tradition, the quest for wisdom and continuous self-improvement. I strive to set an example of these qualities with my own life because they are the values I would like to have reflected back to me from others.
My belief in God is a comfort in times of uncertainty and a guiding force for ethical behavior. Central themes in the Bible promote brotherly love, better family relationships, good business practices and healthy living that are beneficial for happiness and quality of life. Religious convictions satisfy a fundamental need for explanation of the origins of life, source of fundamental knowledge, and the wonders of creation. Belief in a higher power provides an anchor in situations of hardship.
The pursuit of health and happiness is critical, not only for myself, but for my family and as many other lives, both human and animal, as I have the privilege of touching. I cannot contribute to the happiness of others if I am unhappy. I cannot help others without first taking care of myself. Experience has taught me that living a life of balance and moderation leads to health. Perseverance brings success in a world of procrastination and apathy.
I have experienced personal growth in the area of bias and placing fewer restrictions and conditions on my love and respect for others. This is an elusive goal which requires perseverance and continuous self-monitoring. Critical thinking requires questioning everything, including our own long held beliefs. This can be a painful process with startling results. I have come to a better understanding that judging others for their decisions, based on my expectations, is not only counter-productive, but damaging to my own well-being and happiness as well as theirs. Sharing any wisdom I may have gained along the way, with those who are willing to listen, is part of my commitment to respect others.
Mahatma Gandhi believed seeking truth to be of the highest virtue and this includes being honest with ourselves and holding ourselves accountable. Critical thinking is essential to finding truth in a world of different opinions, some supported by fact and others only rooted in emotion. Awareness is the key to recognizing how much control we have in shaping our own lives. The more personally aware of our own thought process we become, the greater our power to shape our world.
Making a living, doing a job I enjoy and being thankful for what I have is the key to financial security and that security is a prerequisite for responsible contribution to society and provides leverage for helping others. By doing what I love, I can “rejoice in the natural gifts” I have been given. (Clemmons, 2003) Doing as much as I can to help others brings serenity, personal satisfaction and greatly improves my quality of life and theirs.
When we do what is right and treat others as we would want to be treated, it brings glory to God because we were created in his image and the news of our good behavior reflects well on him, to believers and unbelievers alike.
Works Cited:
Clemmons, Sonya. Science Careers. 28 November 2003. <http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2003_11_28/nodoi.2031071490531047194>.
Gandhi, Mahatma. unknown.
My vision is universal peace, contentment, health and happiness for all people. The majority of the people I talk to are dissatisfied with their interactions and experiences with others and the general attitude of the world’s population. I firmly believe that changing the things that are wrong with the world begins with me. My own behavior must be of the highest possible quality, before I can expect others to improve, to meet my expectations. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, I must “be the change” I want to “see in the world.”
Self awareness is the key to change. Remaining open-minded in the face of criticism facilitates seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. Regardless of the implications of abstract theories of reality, what we personally perceive is our own reality. My perception is that we are living in the real world, requiring practical, contextual, real-life solutions that work. Common sense tells us to treat others as we wish to be treated, with respect and consideration.
Personally I am motivated by specific core values, which include unconditional love, loyalty, honesty, responsibility, compassion, tradition, the quest for wisdom and continuous self-improvement. I strive to set an example of these qualities with my own life because they are the values I would like to have reflected back to me from others.
My belief in God is a comfort in times of uncertainty and a guiding force for ethical behavior. Central themes in the Bible promote brotherly love, better family relationships, good business practices and healthy living that are beneficial for happiness and quality of life. Religious convictions satisfy a fundamental need for explanation of the origins of life, source of fundamental knowledge, and the wonders of creation. Belief in a higher power provides an anchor in situations of hardship.
The pursuit of health and happiness is critical, not only for myself, but for my family and as many other lives, both human and animal, as I have the privilege of touching. I cannot contribute to the happiness of others if I am unhappy. I cannot help others without first taking care of myself. Experience has taught me that living a life of balance and moderation leads to health. Perseverance brings success in a world of procrastination and apathy.
I have experienced personal growth in the area of bias and placing fewer restrictions and conditions on my love and respect for others. This is an elusive goal which requires perseverance and continuous self-monitoring. Critical thinking requires questioning everything, including our own long held beliefs. This can be a painful process with startling results. I have come to a better understanding that judging others for their decisions, based on my expectations, is not only counter-productive, but damaging to my own well-being and happiness as well as theirs. Sharing any wisdom I may have gained along the way, with those who are willing to listen, is part of my commitment to respect others.
Mahatma Gandhi believed seeking truth to be of the highest virtue and this includes being honest with ourselves and holding ourselves accountable. Critical thinking is essential to finding truth in a world of different opinions, some supported by fact and others only rooted in emotion. Awareness is the key to recognizing how much control we have in shaping our own lives. The more personally aware of our own thought process we become, the greater our power to shape our world.
Making a living, doing a job I enjoy and being thankful for what I have is the key to financial security and that security is a prerequisite for responsible contribution to society and provides leverage for helping others. By doing what I love, I can “rejoice in the natural gifts” I have been given. (Clemmons, 2003) Doing as much as I can to help others brings serenity, personal satisfaction and greatly improves my quality of life and theirs.
When we do what is right and treat others as we would want to be treated, it brings glory to God because we were created in his image and the news of our good behavior reflects well on him, to believers and unbelievers alike.
Works Cited:
Clemmons, Sonya. Science Careers. 28 November 2003. <http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2003_11_28/nodoi.2031071490531047194>.
Gandhi, Mahatma. unknown.