ChessCube

Friday, 19 February 2010

Determaining the true worth of a man

I've been thinking for a while now about what dictates your moral ground. The driving force that makes people decide what is right, and what is wrong. Does the way you view the world help in building your character? Do the choices you make empower you or disempower you? And really, what is a person's character? Is it the same as your personality? Is it inherited or learned? And through all this, what is it that determains a mans true worth to others?

The following are the answers I've come up with. Feel free to comment on anything you agree, disagree or can or cannot relate to ^_^

Wikipedia's definition of morality is that: "morality is a man made concept. What is moral to one group, nation or country it can be immoral to another one. That means what is good for somebody it can be bad for somebody else." To me, adhering to the moral laws of our respective countries is a good thing. I think killing someone in a cold calculated manner (murder) is wrong, as is taking something that is not yours, or abusing others emotionally, physically and mentally. To me the principal of "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you" rings true. Or more simply put, " And harm ye none, do what ye will". (However I firmly believe that killing someone, in defence of a loved one or yourself is fine..you can only turn the other cheek so many times. And you only get one life!)

So morals are guide lines that we're brought up with, that help shape our world view. And the world around us is based on our perception of it. So yet again, what somone thinks can differ greatly from someone else, and who's to say that the views of others are wrong?

It is our perception of situations that dictates what we get out of life. So if we choose to view the good in things, and see negative things in an impartial light, then how can anything really be completely negatively? Of course if you're mugged at gun point and your bag, or wallet and cellphone are taken away, thats not exactly a positive experience.

But it could help you to be more aware of the things going on around you. It can force you to live in the moment, or realise that true value is found in living life now, and having a variety of experiances. The value in life isn't found in having millions of material possessions or accumulating trinkets which could be taken from you tomorrow, or destroyed in fires, earthquakes or any other kind of natural or man made disaster. Sure material comforts are nice, but they don't determain who you are.

Yes, if you're mugged it's traumatic and stressful, but it's your choice whether you want to become the victim, or the survivor. If you want to live in fear, or embrace tomorrow as a new day. It's how you deal with the situations life throws at you, that determain you character.


Personally, I believe that character and personality are linked, but they are not the same thing. Your personality is composed of the inherent traits you were born with, while your character is a series of behaviours that have been observed and learned. It's character helps us determain who we really are.
There are many definitions of character qualities. Some good qualities might be compassion and integrity, or honesty and helpfulness. While some bad qualities might be arrogance and aggressiveness and cruelty or concitedness. While everyone has a mixture of traits, it's the one's you show time and again that define you to others. And if you're consistently impatient and finding fault with others, I'm sorry, but no one is going to want to hang around with you, it'd be far too draining! So in a nut shell, a persons character helps others determain the true value or worth of  them.


Some famous quotes about mans true worth are below:

 Ann Landers once said: “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.”  

Thomas Babington Macaulay said: “The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.” 

and perhaps the most well known quote is from  Martin Luther King, Jr who said: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

All these people and many, many more all held to the thought that, it's not what happens to you, but how you deal with it, that shows your true colours. 


The following American Indian proverb sums up my point perfectly:


An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:
A fight is going on inside me, he said to the boy. It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, fear, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too.
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, Which wolf will win? The old Cherokee simply replied, The one you feed.
- American Indian Proverb


Until next time,
Daughter of Dreams

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