Hello, everyone. For this week's post, I want to talk about the second prompt: a personal virtue being a defect to other people.
I would consider myself to be a rare person, in every sense of the term. One of the ways in which I consider myself a rare person is because I have a certain code of personal ethics that I abide by that are unwavering. Being a person with a strong sense of integrity, I try my hardest to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. I am a person that stands on unwavering principles. That's just the best way to live life to the fullest and without any guilt and shame attached to it, in my opinion. And because I firmly believe that you receive the energy you put out into the world, again, I'm sure to watch my words and actions to ensure I don't receive consequences I don't want.
One thing that many people have a habit of doing is kicking people when they are down and looking down to shame people who are in a poor state (in any sense). People don't seem to understand that the ill you wish on others, you inevitably wish on yourself and if you have a habit of kicking people when they are down, you will inevitably end up in the same situation. Life is funny like that. A lot of this has to do with the fact that people will find any and every reason to one-up someone or think they are better than people - operating out of PURE ego. People's egos are going to be their unbecoming, but you just have to let them be.
So, yes. I (try) watch my tongue for this reason, mainly because I know that I am not immune to anything in life. But going back to integrity, I try to do the right thing and also lead people down a positive path. It just wouldn't sit right on my conscience if I knew that I intentionally led someone astray.
I have certain personal beliefs about certain world systems that many people don't hold. Most people often maneuver through the world in a naïve way, unassuming, and unaware of how the world really operates. (My convictions are so strong and I'm “anti” in so many ways that I've refused employment opportunities and money because certain companies were in direct opposition to my core values. I refuse to sell my soul.) I try to bring truth to power thinking that I'm called to free people from their mental states that have inhibited their ability to live a fruitful life. However, I've had many painful lessons in which many people would rather be sold comforting and beautiful lies instead of being told uncomfortable truths. These beautiful lies will lead many people to misery and suffering, and I have gotten cursed out and disrespected for trying to help people see the “light” so to speak. I've just come to the conclusion that many people would rather be lied to than helped. And as long as I give people information to help them heal or free themselves from situations they don't need to be in and if they choose not to take my advice, it is no fault of my own if they choose not to listen.
I guess this is what truth-telling, integrity, and caring about the well-being of people gets you.