Values are the most understated aspects of our character that are immensely crucial to our being. Ever since we're knee-high, we keep hearing this particular word; some people being full of them, whereas others seriously lacking them. So, what are these values? And who gets to decide what they should be? Well, the answer to these questions is handed down to us by humanity's collective intellect, and therefore, it would be unwise to dispute it. To push my point further, I've managed to put together a few lines from the man who had a way with words, a certain Mr. William Shakespeare. There's something about the way he phrases his opinion, that we just can't help admiring it.
"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."
Love, as they say, is the root of our existence. And by love, it need not necessarily mean romantic love. It could instead mean compassion, empathy, or even kindness. It is love that spawns all these emotions. Sadly though, we only realize the significance of love quite late in a lifetime spent earning money, exacting revenge, and harboring hatred. So, if you happen to read this, understand that life is too short to be wasted being angry, upset, or depressed.
"For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds; Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds."
Responsibility. Sounds a lot like something we'd never want to be burdened with, isn't it? It is quite a huge word, which we avoid being associated with, but the fact remains that we are responsible for each and every action of ours, be it a white lie or a helping hand. Not everyone has the courage to take responsibility for their actions, but in the end, our deeds are a true reflection of our character.
"This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not
Honesty is the best policy, but how many among us actually believe that? It's so easy to push the blame on someone else, or to conveniently lie and escape punishment, isn't it? Remember that you may not always be caught with your pants down, but those demons of dishonesty will accompany you for the rest of your life, jabbing at your conscience. Assuming that we all have one, that is.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once."
Bravery is a value that often goes unnoticed amongst the other goody-two-shoes ones. Don't we all live our lives toeing the line, being afraid of rejection? In fact, we also teach our children to fit in, rather than stand out. We fear rejection to such an extent that we completely forget what it's like to be ourselves. Slowly but surely, we simply end up being clones of each other for the sake of uniformity. Is that why we're born? There's some food for thought.
"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
Our thoughts determine who we are, and what we eventually become. We always speak ill of being judgmental or biased, and yet remain blatantly so throughout the course of our life. Judging the merits or demerits of something is completely a matter of perception, but few among us can boast of having an unprejudiced mind. They say that it is impossible to have a human sans prejudices. But living with preconceived notions just kills the joy of learning to accept what is new.
A life lived without values is a life wasted. These values may sound preachy to some, but they are sure to help you breeze through all the trials and tribulations that you may face through the course of your life. Don't believe me? Try them and find out for yourself.
