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What moves you? Who inspires you? How do you feel about life? Where are you going? Why are you doing what you’re doing? How do you know what’s best?
It’s simple to ask these questions and even easier for the simple-minded to answer them. This type of direct inquiry can be either a violent sea or calm waters based on a person’s navigational skills. Many jump in the boat without checking for holes, and although they will be riding off somewhere, they’ll be bailing out water and patching up holes when they should be enjoying the sunrise if they even thought to bring the proper tools along.
Asking people these types of questions makes them think critically about themselves, as if you had just put up a mirror in front of them. Self-reflection is an essential skill and expertly harnessing its power can only bring self-improvement. That is why the sun rises – yet another chance for us all to improve.
Do you find yourself placing blame on others too often? Hold up a mirror in front of your face until you see an honest smile looking back at you, one with the joy of self-esteem.
Philosophers have always said, “Know thyself.” Shakespeare once said, “To thine own self be true.” To know that you are, that you can think and that you choose to are powers far greater than any other you can give yourself. Holding strong to a philosophy that guides you to be true to yourself and this life is one that will take you as far as you think you can go.
The sad reality though, is that if you were to ask the people you know these questions, it’s likely you’ll either receive a confused and inconsistent response instead of a confident and intelligent response. Keep dear those who can answer wisely, for we all need good company.
When these questions cannot be answered truly without frustration, anxiety and withdrawal, it is due primarily to the deterioration of a proven and practical philosophy.
This must be reversed, for we see many ills in this world. They exist and multiply in the absence of strong philosophies. When people don’t have philosophy to guide them, the paths they take are clouded in uncertainty and blurred by fear. A strong philosophy makes wise navigators of men through the great adventure of life and prevents them from being gullible and befuddled.
Living day to day and hand to mouth is as primitive as it gets. Philosophies were written for the sole purpose of releasing people from the bondage of worry, ignorance and those competing philosophies that trap the mind.
If you meet a person who proclaims, “I’m just livin’ life,” or, “Who am I to know?” run away. Run faster if they say, “I just go with the flow.” In this they are confessing a weak philosophy that prevents them from planning for the future and keeps them from thinking about how they could plan one.
So you see, if we are to really change our lives, we must bring strong philosophies to the forefront of education. We must throw out those constricting tenets and only then can we sail straight toward prosperity.
Michael W. Gibson is a junior philosophy student.
Bangor Daily News