BEAUTY IN EXISTENCE

What do you consider the greatest fortune in life?

Looking back, we may all realise that numerous blessings have surrounded us in various situations, it is just that we are often too preoccupied with making a living to notice that fortune has indeed knocked on our door, right?

I always feel life is truly miraculous and fascinating, whether in ordinary times or challenging moments. My faith in the goodness of life is reinforced by the fortunate encounters I have had with family, acquaintances, friends, and sometimes even strangers through various events.

Among these blessings, meeting Teachers who have loved, taught, and supported me stands out significantly. Despite not always being a top student or the most ‘well-behaved,’ my occasional mischief and questioning of the issues raised by my Teachers probably made me more noticeable to them.

There was a time when I was deeply engrossed in personal projects and advanced study programs, leading to a decline in my health and moments of drowsiness during some classes. One day, a Teacher noticed my sleepy gaze while listening to his lecture. However, instead of reprimanding me, he gently inquired about my recent activities. I shared about my personal projects, educational programs I have taken to advance my career, etc., and guess what? After listening, he simply said, “Oh, nice. No wonder you’ve been a bit distracted.”

I was surprised that he did not ask why I was taking those programs or what I intended to achieve, as most people usually do upon hearing about my plans or new courses. When I asked him why he had not inquired further, his response surprised me even more and deepened my respect for him. He said, “Everyone has a valid reason for what they do and for their life plans. So, it is not surprising when they decide to do something. And I believe you are no different, which is why I did not feel the need to ask.”

You are probably wondering about the connection between the story in my class, the claim about luck in the beginning, and the title “Elegance in existence” of this post, right?

Indeed, all three are deeply connected! While I was working today, a friend sent me a link to a Facebook article. The post, written in a very direct, forceful, and even harsh tone, aimed to “wake up” readers about a character who has become popular in the media recently. This story originated from and was analysed solely based on a book, which I would rather not name here.

Critically heavy writing, specifically targeting someone, has never been my approach. In fact, I am not one to chase trends, hot news, or social media dramas. However, because the person mentioned in the article is someone I know, I still wanted to read the content very carefully.

I understand that social media and personal pages are spaces where everyone can freely express their opinions; however, it still can reflect your personality and character as a person; it will also affect those in your network or even strangers if the post goes viral and is widely shared. Therefore, reading an article filled with direct attacks, and even intending to demean the person mentioned through just a book, made me feel uncomfortable!

In life, there are always good people and not-so-good ones because we are human, and thus we have strengths and weaknesses. We can never expect everyone to live well and kindly, as that is also a personal choice and lesson. However, what is important is how we choose to handle the issues around us. It is not about deep-seated personal animosities or because of (a few) unintentional or intentional actions that we are ready to post content that steers the crowd in a negative direction, and then directly attack the person mentioned, especially when we do not even have exact evidence but only a book and a few supportive words from other negative “keyboard champs”!

On a personal page of a social network, everyone has a certain circle of connections, ranging from a few dozen to several hundred, thousands, or even tens of thousands of followers, etc. The larger the audience of people interested and following, the easier it becomes for someone’s shares and posts to go viral and quickly spread to the community at large. Sharing personal viewpoints with anyone might seem normal, but if it does not truly stem from a decent attitude, it can easily guide and drag many readers/viewers into “assimilating” with the writer’s thinking and judgement.

Especially when you are working in media or are an influencer on social media, you should be even more cautious and need to stay clear-headed to make fair assessments and judgements about an issue or individual. Whether you like or dislike someone else’s story, maintaining decency in both actions and statements is crucial. Because your actions speak to who you are, and they can play a part in deciding where you will lead your readers.

I do not know about you, but I am the type of person who, when encountering an issue that has captured my attention or affection, can spend a lot of time – even years – researching, delving into, and flipping it over and over until I feel satisfied with the depth I have perceived from the issue. Otherwise, if I do not feel fully enlightened, I will continue to delve into it, and the time dedicated to it could even span a few years.

So, upon reading the Facebook post by the user mentioned above, I only felt that they were “borrowing their name to substitute for moral conduct” to hide the deep intentions within, since the language used was very harsh, lacking in decency, and I felt it served more for personal attacks than “for the good of the community”; the writer also seemed to be using their own judgments to “manipulate” the audience’s thoughts.

This truly is not fair to the person mentioned in the post, nor is it fair to the audience, because they could be negatively influenced if they read negative things from that writer every day.

This reminds me of what my Teacher has said, “Every person, when they decide to do something, already has a reason or a plan for their life. Our job is to listen and respect that, not to attack, judge, or assess but to gently and softly present our personal views without leading the crowd to follow our own negative thoughts about others.”

My dear friend, 
In today’s age, many people misuse the development of social media and technology to spread their personal opinions/judgements, so each of us, while “navigating” social media, must be discerning and carefully consider what we come into contact with, hear, see, and perceive every day.

I have never supported the behaviour that, under the guise of being “civilised” or “modern,” aims to force others to accept distorted views, especially when they stem from personal emotions or objectives. I hope that all of us will always remain conscious and mindful when sharing with others, as well as when listening to someone else share.

I think perhaps you also understand this: No matter what happens, gentleness and wisdom will always lead to better outcomes for any issue. Then, the issue will be listened to more deeply, the sharing will be more positive, quickly touching hearts, and will save more time/resources/emotions for everyone involved, as we all are part of the flow of a story.

Do not attempt to “Twist and distort” the stories of others, only speaking out when you are truly certain of something; otherwise, maintain silence or adopt a neutral and gentle stance. This is because “People love and praise a hero, but they revel even more when that hero falls. It has always been so”; and indeed, you also do not know how many “versions” of yourself exist through the words of others, right?

I just want to add one more thing to you:
Life inherently encompasses opposition, contradiction, and conflict. However, not every situation demands fierce struggle, excessive expression, and manipulation of others with one’s viewpoint. Instead, gentleness, calmness, and insight can sometimes be the key to resolving all problems, misunderstandings, or conflicts. Strive to stay mindful so you can “awaken” gently and calmly step out of any illusion, my dear friend!

“Beauty in appearance is an advantage – Beauty in existence is competence!” (Cach Ty)
Sometimes, you do not need to be breathtakingly beautiful or be a person of significant influence, but simply living beautifully and kindly every day towards those around you can conquer the hearts of others!

Much love,
Truly Inspired®