How do I find my values? (1) What values should I live by? As we age, this becomes a more complex question. Initially, our parents give us our values: study hard, be a good student — achieve! We relax somewhat as our friends become more dominant and important. We must conform, fit in, and become attractive and “cool.” Thus, we are suspended in a time of deep comfort and safety.
Soon we find ourselves, however, thrust into society. Its values are more ruthless and vicious. The arduous treadmill of capitalism looms large. (2) The competitive nature of life begins to dominate everything, and along the way, much like soldiers killed in battle, the weak and the unwashed fall away. We pass them on our streets or train stations, crumpled into boxes covered with dirty blankets. They are the detritus of a system whose centrifugal force must have failure and loss to counterbalance success and achievement.
But, what if these values are misplaced or at worst immature — not in keeping with where the modern world must go? The values I grew up with may be wrong. Humanity increasingly acknowledges that this contemporary system, with its winner-take-all ethos, cannot continue. The survival of the planet requires a change. (3)
So what values should I learn to adopt: the Judea-Christian values of kindness, integrity, honesty, and hard work, or those of Adam Smith’s (4) aggressiveness, ambition, and cutthroat combativeness? The one nurturing the communal precepts of life — a form of Georgism (5) and common property — or that of independent success? On the one hand, we have the Common Good and the creation of a collective society, and on the other, that of economic striving and survival of the fittest. If you can’t make it, bad luck to you. You were just too weak.
How do we find the “Golden Mean?” (6) The answer is based on endeavoring for excellence in all that we do, and this requires training. In Finland, for example, the teachers focus on the bottom third, the losers, if you will. Their system believes that you nurture from the bottom up, not enhance from the top down. In this way “the poor and the unwashed,” from less advantageous backgrounds, gain new values and thus flourish and live more dynamic lives.
Therefore, if you follow the caveat, “Always excellence: why not?” you can attain the success that you desire in your life, whatever that means to you. This ultimately embodies the values that bring the most contentment. The great psychologist, Carl Jung, leaves us with a thought: Man positively needs general ideas and convictions that will give a meaning to his life and enable him to find a place for himself in the universe.
A closing thought: This week, we spoke about personal values, what they are, and how I nurture them. This is an exciting quest for I can create my own. I was recently given a value that I would like to share: discipline equals freedom. We must simply get out our notebook and record our thoughts on a daily basis. Our life values will soon be clarified.
To sum up: This week we spoke about the lifelong quest to elucidate our values.
To be noted: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. (7) The wise let the fools go first.
Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AtOPiG5jyk&ab_channel=NetherlandsBachSociety
For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbNpSr51rI8&ab_channel=andrewgold%7Cheretics.
This week, on your reflective walk, please reflect on what are your core values.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: I must adhere to my values in life.
Footnotes:
2) https://eeb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/EEB-REPORT-JOBTREADMILL.pdf
4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith
5) https://lawliberty.org/book-review/georgism-revisited/
6) https://www.britannica.com/topic/golden-mean
7) https://www.historythroughfiction.com/blog/5-famous-literary-quotes-three