While this list is not comprehensive, they are important personal, cultural, and religious beliefs that guide me through life. While it is my beliefs, there are components that apply to everyone. I would go so far as to say there are ones everyone should agree on. But I will leave it up to you to determine which ones those are. Because ultimately, we have to choose what we believe and decide whether we want to be objective or not in how we choose.
1. There is only one truth.
GiphyIt may sound simple, but it is important. In today's world, more people are saying truth is relative and we choose what is true. This is not true, no pun intended. Certain things are black and white. Now, nobody knows every single truth in life, but we should strive to find it. And everyone needs to understand there is only one truth. In a murder case, the defendant either committed the crime or didn't. No one says that each side is correct; one side is wrong while the other is right.
2. Be open-minded and don't assume you know everything.
This may sound like it contradicts point 1 but it does not. An important part of discovering the truth is being open-minded. And for me, being open-minded has allowed me to enjoy life more. You get to try different things and learn valuable lessons. Not every experience may be beneficial, but I am willing to take that chance since never being open-minded keeps you trapped in the same place.
3. Be selfless.
I have almost always strived to be selfless and care about others. Of course no one is perfect at this. Narcissism is on the rise and people are focused on themselves. If we want a healthier community, society, and world, let's start by thinking about others. Even just simply asking someone questions in a conversation helps to show that you care about other people.
4. Following the law.
GiphyThis seems like it doesn't need to be stated, but I believe it does. Laws are not perfect and they can be inconvenient, but they keep order in society. If people think it is okay to pick and choose which laws to follow, then what is the point? History has already shown what civilization becomes when there are no laws. For me, I believe in following the law and keeping order, even if I don't like it. Just consider rules in general. There is always someone that doesn't like it, but does that justify breaking it?
5. Plan for your life, but adapt to unexpected changes.
Obviously, you are doomed to fail if you don't plan. But one lesson that I have learned is to accept and adapt to times where things don't go according to plan. For a long time, I failed to see the importance in this. As a result, I got frustrated with many moments in life. At this point, I am about to graduate from college and pursue an MBA. Even though I have a plan, some details are uncertain and I need to be adaptable to any future developments. Not saying there won't be stress, but I have felt less stress with this attitude.
6. All people are equally valuable.
Everyone is unique, yet that does not change our value. As much as it may sound political, I love the "all lives matter" hashtag. This is because it is a core belief all human beings should have. All of our lives matter regardless of race, sex, gender, orientation, etc. It also includes the unborn. Whatever categories you can come up with, people's lives matter. I do my utmost best to love all of the people in my life. This not only comes from my personal character, it mainly comes from my faith and the conviction that God created all human beings.
7. Be positive.
I do not mean being positive to the point where you deny reality and just irritate friends/family. I mean focusing on the positive so that you get through bad times or even seek ways to prevent them from happening again. Bad things happen every day, both major and minor. I acknowledge the bad, but I try to focus on what is good in my life and the positive of the situation. A classic example is getting a bad grade on the first exam. It is not a good thing, but a positive is that you know what future exams will be like and what studying techniques don't work. This helps to prevent negative thoughts from inhibiting you.
8. Everyone has a destiny and a fate.
I believe everyone has a purpose in life that they serve. It won't always be obvious. In fact, it is almost always confusing. Once again, my personal faith in God helps to clarify this. At the same time, I am still trying to figure out the specifics for my individual life. When you read about history and the stories of other people, it seems like certain individuals were destined for a purpose, like George Washington or Gandhi. We still have free will to make choices in our lives, but it is important to embrace our destiny and accept where fate places us. The reason this is important to me is that I can accept more of the tough moments in life, because I realize that everything happens for a reason.
9. Assume good intentions before assuming bad intentions.
Do you ever hear older people say how our generation acts like "snowflakes?" Or that we get offended too easily? The statements are partially true, but I notice people from a variety of ages that get offended easily. The reason for this is that people assign bad intentions to other people too quickly. I used to assume bad intentions all the time and I got angry at so many people. Recently, I looked back on those moments and realized how many of them turned out to be misunderstandings. Those people were not trying to hurt or insult me, they had no idea how it made me feel. So if I do feel uncomfortable or angry at a behavior, I remind myself to not assume bad intentions unless it is proven (like the person saying they don't like you). This has reduced my emotional stress and I do not get hung up on minor issues.
10. Jesus Christ died for our sins and gave us an important message.
For those who have read some of my articles, I have mentioned God and Christianity. This is the pinnacle of my beliefs. Without it, all of my actions and other beliefs mean nothing. I believe Jesus Christ died for humanity's sinful nature so that we could have a path to salvation and righteousness. He also preached how we are to live and share the gospel by word of mouth and through our actions. I am not a perfect follower and I still sin, just like everyone else. But I am determined to serve my Heavenly Father and strive to be holy. I believe Christ's example and message reveal how we are to live and the way to the good life.
Keep in mind, this article is just a summary of my beliefs. There are more details I could go into or questions that I could answer in person. I am not seeking to force anyone to agree with my beliefs. I would only ask that you consider them and whether you see any truth in what I said. At the very least, think about what you believe in, because going through life will be easier with solid beliefs rather than not knowing what to believe in.
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