What I truly and fundamentally believe
What I truly and fundamentally believe has been cultured by education, influenced by society and shaped by my life experiences. As I have aged, I have discovered that I had lived in a state of youthful ignorance. The joys and brutalities I have experienced in my life, and those that I have observed in the lives of others, have formed what I believe. While I believe that the more I learn, the less I know, I have come to live my life by those beliefs.
The course of my life has come with numerous opportunities for self-reflection. Some occurred during times of turmoil and frustration, when I would look at the man in the mirror and wonder what went wrong. Others occurred during times of success when I wondered what went right, ultimately concluding that my successes and failures in life are determined by the choices I’ve made. I believe I have the potential to be a better person, and have an ongoing desire for personal growth; but as with us all, I am definitely a work in progress. I believe in myself and that I can have or be anything I am willing to work hard enough for. However, I’m also aware this cannot be done alone, and I believe that choosing the right partner is the single most important decision I will ever make; it will determine my life’s path, and the accomplishments I attain. After a failed marriage, I have learned - without question - personality and integrity outweigh physical beauty.
I have come to discover after taking psychology that personality is shaped by our life experiences, good and particularly bad. Someone who has been deeply hurt might react with abrasiveness as a defense mechanism, or someone who has little self-confidence might be taken as arrogant. Before I learned this, there were times when I would dismiss people I disliked. Through my social and workplace interactions with others, I have come to believe if you don’t like someone, you don’t know them well enough. Once I began to practice these beliefs in my own life, I was able to demonstrate compassion and understanding toward others. I began to realize everyone has hopes, dreams and fears, and sharp words can bring tears. As the saying goes: “Words are sharper than knives”, and I would add “wounds to the heart may never depart.” Compassion, awareness and understanding have now become words for me to live by.
My interaction with others has opened my eyes to new ideas and concepts. I no longer subscribe to religion because I have witnessed and experienced the division it has caused among people, families, and entire nations. Rather, I lean more toward a belief in intelligent design and that we are not alone in the universe. When one considers the number of stars in the
I’ve learned that with age comes wisdom, and with wisdom comes the development and understanding of how fragile and precious life really is. With new experiences, education, enlightenment or an encounter with someone’s opinion on the matter, the beliefs that I hold true today may change at any time - with or without notice. But until then... this is what I truly believe.
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