"Two things contribute to progress: moving faster than others or following the right path."
~ René Descartes
As I mentioned in the piece "The Cliff & the Dragon," I firmly believe that our daily lives are filled with stories waiting to be discovered and others waiting to be told. We simply need to take a moment to stop, focus on seeing beyond what we take for granted, and begin to understand rather than limiting ourselves to listening, seeing, smelling, touching, and speaking.
Of course, it's easier said than done, as we are constantly on high alert due to our daily routines. Every day, we assume predetermined tasks such as waking up, eating, drinking, or going to bed. We do them so often that they lose their charm—not because they lack importance, but because we no longer consider them relevant, even though they are essential.
To practice what I preach, I have become more aware of what I do daily. This has yielded surprising results, as even from a simple image or a word, I have come to learn fascinating stories.
Today's piece arises from a phrase spoken during a casual conversation that took place after we felt discomfort from a movie while heading to our next destination:
Although the conversation was neither deep nor philosophical, upon hearing that phrase, I knew I couldn't overlook it.
Let's return to the initial example, where we do things "just because" without recognizing where they come from or what they cause around us. This applies to both positive and negative aspects.
By adopting the values of the Japanese tea ceremony—harmony (Wa), respect (Kei), purity (Sei), and tranquility (Jaku)—and applying them to your daily life, all your interactions begin to be imbued with harmony.
Thanks to the peace you cultivate within yourself and your environment, you become aware of and respectful toward others. Recognizing that only through considerate and genuine acts can we have a true impact, both on our lives and on the lives of others.
You made a mistake or went through a difficult situation. The easiest thing would be to leave it behind and move on as if nothing happened, trying to keep up the pace of your daily life, perhaps telling yourself it wasn't a big deal. But deep down, you know something is still wrong, that there is something left to face.
Moving forward without taking the time to reflect and heal only causes those wounds to accumulate. Eventually, when you least expect it, those wounds will resurface deeper than before. In the saddest cases, this accumulation of ignored pain can lead you to a point where you no longer know how to get up. Relationships break, opportunities are lost, and you realize too late that what seemed like a small issue has irrevocably changed your life.
Although both cases are unrelated, they share a common factor: our response to situations. This does not mean that our lives must always be good or bad. Life is not black and white; it moves in various shades between those extremes.
In the piece "Freedom or Lawlessness?", one of the steps mentioned was:
Step 2: "Once you achieve the first step, you move on to one that can shock you: removing the blindfold from your eyes. You begin to do this as you navigate the endless journey of continuous learning, but you will completely remove it by exposing yourself to the environment in various ways. Only then will you see reality, not as you wish, but as it truly is."
In both the positive and negative cases, we do not discuss how you perceive reality, as doing so would be unfair. Each person thinks, loves, and acts differently. What is simple for some may be the most complex experience for others. However, what is discussed is attitude—the way you act in response to circumstances.
This is where the phrase "We were instructed to improve, not to destroy" resonates again. How many times have you stopped to think about what you were instructed for? The obvious answer would be, "Of course, to improve." But let's be honest: responding immediately with "to improve" is akin to breathing. You do it out of habit, not consciously. If you think about breathing, it becomes uncomfortable; the same applies to questions like this.
Pause for a moment. Reflect on your life, even in the current day to-day, and ask yourself if you genuinely do things that improve or destroy your person, your loved ones, and even your surroundings.
There are no right or wrong answers. In the end, you will realize that you have done things that are not so pleasant but also made noble ones. You might wonder, "Am I an angel or a demon?" Neither. Like a pewter cup, you are a human being with flaws and virtues. Ultimately, we are all newcomers in this life, which doesn't come with a manual. However, there is one exception to this rule: while we are human and imperfect, that does not give us the right to destroy another. And if we have skills superior to others, we cannot expect everyone to have them.
In this case, humility is our compass. It may seem like a worn-out and straightforward value, but I consider it one of the most complex. To achieve humility, it is necessary to embody justice, respect, generosity, empathy, gratitude, sincerity, modesty, openness to learning, perseverance, tolerance, and authenticity, to mention just a few basic requirements.
There may seem to be no such thing as "We were instructed to improve, not to destroy." However, this is precisely where I want to go: this phrase is loaded with a positive attitude. I don't seek for you to take this phrase and define your life by it, as that would not be genuine. The most appropriate approach is to describe yourself and generate a phrase representing you. What I do want is for you to reflect on how your internal balance is and what you base your self-definition on. Are you proud of it?
Ultimately, our lives are like science: upon finding the answer to one question, three new questions arise to be discovered. Although life may not allow us to know and learn everything, instead of resisting, we can embrace our role as eternal learners, knowing that "Il meglio è nemico del bene" —"The best is the enemy of the good."
Satoricha ~