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Light from Many Lamps

Light from Many Lamps V: The quest for perfection

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“If there exists a good and wise God, then there also exists a progress of mankind towards perfection.” – Plato

Plato’s quote perfectly summarizes the direction mankind strives to move forward and outlines our relationship with the infinite, the unknown, with religion, and ultimately with God. It’s in our very nature to try and understand the things we don’t understand. For us, God symbolizes an infinite force and an embodies both the unknown and perfection.

As a fun way to finish off this influential course, I’d like to pose a question that remains unanswered despite thousands of years of inquisition: What is perfection? What does a perfect society look like? Is there a perfect set of values that we can embody? Does the very notion of perfection even exist in our imperfect nature as human beings?

Often, with regards to democratic societies, we see this reflected in the people’s vision of what their ideal society looks like and then elect a leader who best reflects this vision. But as we’ve seen with every election period, people’s views on the ideal society change over time depending on multiple factors such as the international political climate, the economic status of the country, the charisma of the leader in question etc. In terms of political ideology, nothing seems to remain constant over time which begs to question whether a ‘perfect’ society even exists. Novelists, authors, and artists, those we generally categorize as the ‘creatives’ in society, do well to explore what this may look like through a aesthetically pleasing medium but even then have been unable to reach a conclusion to this proposition.

So if perfection doesn’t seem likely from a societal context, can a perfect mankind mean gaining the unquestionable ability to survive under any circumstance, and in essence, avoid death from natural causes? While this likelihood can most certainly be envisioned with all the breakthroughs and resources allocated to medicine, can we avoid mutual destruction from the evils of human nature. Governments have the nuclear capacity to decimate significant portions of the world population and forever alter the atmospheric makeup of the Earth from the nuclear radiation left over. Even if our societies ensure world peace, how would we address the toxic waste which slowly poisons our Earth’s atmosphere from decades worth of pollution?

While these issues certainly don’t derail mankind from striving to make progress in all spheres of human inquisition, one has to question whether our efforts for reaching perfection can be resolved from the imperfect beings that we are. I myself believe that perfection only lies in the heavens but also manifests itself here on Earth if we look closely. For example, perfection to me is found both within us and in the natural environment around us from the intricacies which allows our bodies to function the way that they do, to the patterns that nature displays as it’s own self-sustaining life force, to the physical laws which govern the cosmos. They each have their own grand design that we can only dream of fully understanding. However, being that we are still imperfect creatures in the end, I believe it’s not in us to ultimately achieve perfection. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try to improve the conditions of future generations past us, just as our ancestors paved the way for our present.

Light From Many Lamps IV: “Enjoy your life without comparing it with that of others”

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For me personally, I can relate well to this quote above by de Condorcet as I’ve noticed that whenever I achieve a goal or obtain a desired item, my contentment for it lingers briefly before looking towards the next venture. My transfixion towards future enterprises is like an insatiable hunger at times in that my present actions always serve as a means to an end which doesn’t end. Being a competitive person, my desire to achieve or obtain material items can be attributed to my desire for others’ acknowledgement. However, I’m also aware that this behaviour is unsustainable as there will always be someone out there with more, meaning my materialistic lust will never be satisfied.

Marquis’s quote reminds me that in order to enjoy life, I should worry less about the activity of others and instead stay in the present to master my own craft. Focus is what allows us to allocate our mental energy towards a specific task and is something I should constantly remind myself in order to achieve my desired ends. When we can transfix our attention towards a specific task, such as studying hard throughout this program, we’ll be able to complete our tasks at a higher quality. Producing high quality content may also achieve our ends at a faster rate as high quality content can lead to exposure, which may open up more individual opportunities.

To me, Marquis’ quote also has a another meaning where we can find inner peace if we can be content with the possessions we have, rather than constantly comparing ourselves to what others have. We need to remember that items are only as valuable as the value we individually place on them. Items that fall outside our material needs are the ones that’s subject to the influence of others and we need to be cognisant of this. The constant cycle of keeping up with the latest trends can lead to some financially irresponsible consequences if left unchecked.

 

References

Watson, L. E. (1988). Light from many lamps. New York: Simon & Schuster.

buddha wallpaper

Light From Many Lamps III: “All that we are is a result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become.”

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Our minds are like a double edged sword that serves as both a blessing and a curse.  It’s responsible for our most brilliant ideas, our lens in which we see the world, or the joy we get from others.  But it can also drive us to feelings of despair and anguish, set us in complacency and hinders our inner potential.  Our mind, like everything else, can serve us in two dual, opposing manners and it’s here where we must recognize this. We must utilize it to its full capacity to do good not only to ourselves, but for others as well. Buddha says it best when he said “all that we are is a result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become” (as cited by Watson, 1988, p. 173).

Too many times do we see those around fall into a cycle of anguish, blaming everyone but themselves for their misfortunes. Attributing all their problems to “bad luck,” “fate,” “God’s will” etc. Yes, there are many things in life that are out of our control but often people don’t take into account the things they can control. One of the most liberating feelings for me personally, is when I break out this thought pattern and realize that I have more control over my destiny then I originally thought. That I have control over my environment and that I can be proactive when facing uncertainty rather than reactive.

For example, when I attended a conference sponsored by TWU last Thursday about female leaders in the tech industry, one of the panelists, Rebecca Troelstra, mentioned that in her company, they hire more so based on people’s attitude and potential fit in their work culture rather than than the job skills they possessed. She said skills were something the company can teach to an employee but having the right attitude is what will enable the employee to learn. If they person truly believes they will be a good fit for the role and for the company, they should put themselves out there regardless because they will never know what will happen if they didn’t. I found her statement very empowering because one of my biggest fears is the feeling of rejection. I’m confident in my ability to learn and provide value to others but I also feel I limit myself career-wise because I despise the feeling of rejection. I become what I ultimately believe and prior to her reminder, my self-imposed limitations become my reality.

Everyone naturally feels negatively about themselves at certain times because we’re all imperfect. Everyone is going to make mistakes. What matters, however, is whether you can learn from those mistakes and truly believe that it is in your power to make a difference. If you truly believe that you have the ability to improve or control what you can control, that belief will become your reality and you can achieve mastery of your mind dualistic nature in the process.

 

References

Watson, L. E. (1988). Light from many lamps. New York: Simon & Schuster.

RE: Light from many lamps -written by Ryan Morrow

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Ryan,

I agree with you, Roosevelt’s quote about fear is so impactful because it helps us adopt a perspective that fear is produced internally and empowers us with the notion that it’s something we can control. One of the main roles of a leader is to guide followers, which may involve teaching followers that the fears is something they have control over and to empower them to overcome it so they can do great things. Fear may not always come from an external entity but can also stem from within. Allowing followers to see this can unlock new levels of potential and ability within them. Sometimes what we may fear are also the things we perceive to have no control over. It’s this cycle of thinking that permeates within our mind and hinders us from taking action. What I think Roosevelt was also addressing is that when we can recognize what it is we really fear and why we fear it, we can then learn to regain that power it had over us and allows us to ultimately conquer it.

-Ruiz

Riance's journey

Light From Many Lamps II: This, too, shall pass away

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The motto, “this, too, shall pass away,” is one that’s said to have originated from a legend about an Eastern monarch asking his wise men to construe a motto he could engrave on his ring which would help him through the worries he faced on a daily basis (Watson, 1988, pp. 74-76). This motto prevailed throughout time and has inspired countless others, from the writer Paul Hamilton Hayne to ex-American president Abraham Lincoln (Watson, 1988, p. 76).

It’s a motto I, too, tell myself although I had no idea where I picked it up from until I read this story. I’ve had to tell myself this a lot lately as I try to balance three graduate courses (an ill-advised decision I made when enrolling in my first semester of the program) with working in a near full-time capacity. It’s a motto that gives me comfort because it helps me take things into perspective that my hardship is only temporary and motivates me to wake up each morning with renewed conviction. Beyond this however, it also reminds me that the challenges I face each day is a test to my character, my spirit, and my will. Challenges and struggles are what builds perseverance and separates those who excel from those who stay mediocre. Me personally, one of my biggest fears is living through life like feeling like I’ve accomplished nothing I could be proud of. As an individual, I live to compete and challenge myself. It’s one of the reasons I took this MA Leadership program: To challenge myself to think in ways deeper than I did previously and surround myself with people who are ready, willing, and committed to transform themselves into people that can make a bigger impact in society.

Another concept that I’ve fully grasped recently is that the sense of accomplishment is not about the destination but about the journey it took to get there. Many people approach life with aspirations of attaining awards, power, titles, or money and fabricate that as part of their identity or reason for existence. In the end, some of these aspirations may prove to be too difficult to overcome and when they don’t succeed, it threatens their self-identity and propels them to a downward spiral of depression or identity-crisis. What I’ve come to realize, especially in my life, is that my identity as a person shouldn’t be defined by a single goal. Life is dynamic in that it changes frequently. Sometimes as people, we have to evolve to adapt to these changes. Many times I’ve heard people express that even if they have achieved these goals, deep inside they still feel empty and ponder why. Understanding that it’s not the goal itself that’s fulfilling, but the journey it took to get there is really what compels meaning in our action and allows us to recognize that it’s in this process where we grow as individuals.

We must learn to love the challenges we presently face and understand that we’ll come out as better people, whether or not you accomplish that set goal. You get what you put into it, whether that applies to your goal or the effort it took to work towards that goal. That’s what should define the thrill you get when you achieve that goal because you were rewarded with something materially to show for it. But remember, it’s not about the material item that should motivate you but the understanding of how far you’ve come since you set out on your mission. That’s why the motto, “this, too, shall pass away,” helps me put into perspective the temporary hardships I presently face because it reminds me that it’s a small step towards my overall journey of growth. Life is a journey. So love that journey.

 

References

Rivera, R. (2018, October 21). Riance’s Journey [Digital image].

Watson, L. E. (1988). Light from many lamps. New York: Simon & Schuster.

RE: Light from many lamps Part 1

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Hi Georgeena,

Your absolutely right when you tie in Lincoln’s quote about folks being as happy as they make their mind up to be. Like you said, many fail to realize that happiness is an intrinsic quality that comes from within rather than from external sources such as money or acknowledgement. While those things are important to have in life to some extent, I want to add on that happiness can also be achieved by adjusting one’s mindset, attitude or perspective. It’s true that in life we all experience highs and lows but I think what’s important is how to react to these highs and lows (especially the lows) that determine your character. Instead of perceiving a negative event as a negative event and letting it affect your behavior, perhaps perceive it as a learning tool that’s to be used for when a similar event arises again in the future. Try to remove the emotion associated with the event and perceive as something necessary for your development as a person. I honestly think mistakes are life’s best teacher anyways.

Cheers,

-Ruiz

 

Light from many lamps Part 1

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Light From Many Lamps I: The secret to happiness is something to do.

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In John Burroughs story, ‘The Secret to Happiness is Something To Do,’ he practically relays the message of the story in the title itself. John argues that ‘the best thing for a man is that which keeps the currents going – the physical, the moral, the intellectual currents going… Take away the occupation of all men, and what a wretched world it would be (Watson, 1998).’ Also earlier in Burroughs’ story he argued that men (and women) having congenial work is more important than any other common associations to happiness such as money, power, fame, or friends because those who lack either money, power, fame, or friends will constantly strive for them (Watson, 1998). A woman with money, for example, isn’t necessarily happy because wealth may have come at the cost of true friendships or love which then is something she thinks she needs to be happy whereas a poor woman with good friends may feel that money is what would make her happy. These things are all the product of people wanting what they don’t have. What many fail to realize though, is that it is in the journey of attaining these goals that produces true happiness, not necessarily the end goal itself. It also seems Watson was aware of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as he mentioned that people also need food, shelter, and clothing to feel any sort of happiness before they can find the sort of work that’s fulfilling. This is similar to Maslow’s idea in that physical and security needs take priority over any kind of happiness but people should work towards ‘self-actualization’ which partially involve finding congenial work to truly experience happiness.

I wholeheartedly agree with Burroughs’ story about finding true happiness in work that you find fulfilling. As someone personally trying to adapt the principles of transformational servant leadership in my interactions with others, one of the things I try to do is help enrich the lives of those around me by helping them find their passions. To me, pursuing passions is one of the best reasons to get up everyday as I feel it gives life purpose and direction. With each passing day, it feels like another productive step closer to achieving my dreams. For those around me who feel lost in what to do in their lives, my best advice to them is pursue the things you love to do and try to incorporate those passions either in your job, your recreational time, as a side business or with your family. And if they’re not quite sure what they identify as passions, then those are journeys that I would be happy to take with them.

 

References

Maslow, A., & Lewis, K. J. (1987). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Salenger Incorporated, 14, 987.

McLeod, S. (2018). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs [Digital image]. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

Watson, L. E. (1988). Light from many lamps. New York: Simon & Schuster.