Throughout life there will always be an opinion of majority; one that we will naturally feel compelled to conform to, both out of perceived logic and from seeking affirmation and approval. It’s seen in the great political debacle we witness today, where people are handed binary outcomes to determine how the masses should be governed. It could even be argued that the system of selection itself is flawed, perhaps in a sense of feigned necessity or simple irrelevance. Yet, we continue to participate, to stand back, and to wait for a change. What we often fail to remember is that change starts with the individual and through an internal assessment of character and ongoing practice.
The laws and policies that we subscribe to (further reaching than merely legal and political matters) can become such a great distraction that we forget to direct our energy to even the most basic of practices—checking in with ourselves and those around us, ensuring that our lives are being acted in a meaningful way, and at all opportunities lessening the harm inflicted by our decisions.
When we turn our focus inwards, we begin to see the microcosm which is our own life. Our problems, our fears, our hopes and aspirations—reflecting on these gives us clarity with how to live in harmony at a greater scale. Casting blame and projecting hate only make things worse, and truthfully are a simple reflection of our internal disorder. Before trying to fix the world, we must first clean our rooms and tend to our gardens; we must set our lives in order before criticizing the world.
There should be little opposition to a life lead with honesty and authenticity, free from the infliction of harm on others. In continually choosing to do our inward work, we lay the foundation for ourselves towards creating a more peaceful, fulfilling life for everyone.
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”
~ Henry David Thoreau