What Really Is My Personal Dream?

[Naomi Singh]

This was one of the exercise to be completed in Module 2 of the Blended Learning. I wote down in my notebook "I want to live in a society that is peaceful and clean." I have information and the skills needed to ensure that this can happen, even skills to help others live in a peaceful and clean world."

Did I really mean this? Of course I cared about the state of our society, but did I really want to devote my life to this cause? My conclusion was that even if it was a personal concern, it was really not my REAL dream.

My real dream is to be a good person. That's it. No fanfare, no hoopla, no gimmicks. Intrinsic in what a good society should be, are citizens who are good. Even if it is impossible for me to change everybody, I can change myself and transfer these values to others. So deep, deep down - my personal dream is to live in a society where people genuinely love and care for each other. I believe that then all other problems in the society will not be as insurmountable as they seem now. Once we each recognize and act on being human, our society will be good.

So it's true what the golden rule says - we should love our neighbours as ourselves. If we apply this very simple principle, then our society will be peaceful and everything good we wish it to be.

 

Of course the challenge lies in loving ourselves. but then, there are many ways we can cultivate self-love.

[Naomi Singh]

Dear Laurence,

Deepak Chopra has hit the nail on the head! Yeah! I do agree with what he says wholeheartedly. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I think I will copy and paste it on my wall at work.. with my other quotes.

 

Best of happiness

Naomi

[Laurence Gilliot]

Hi Naomi,

 

Thank you for your beautiful answer. Your words are so personal and I guess that they come with a feeling, a strong sense of what is 'good' for you. A feeling of 'it feels right'. 

 

I wanted to share a little paragraph from the book 'Power, freedom and Grace' from Deepak Chopra because it really made me think about why I do certain things.

"Happiness seems to be the goal of all other goals, and yet most people seek happiness in a roundabout way. We have material goals, such as wanting a better house, a better automobile, or items of luxury. We have goals that deal with relationship. We want to feel safe; we want to feel that we belong. We want to be able to express ourselves freely and creatively. Some of us might want wealth or power, other might seek fame.

But if you ask people why they want these things, the ultimate answer remains the same: They believe that if they attain these things, then they will be happy."

 

All the best,

 

Laurence

[Naomi Singh]

Thank you Gaston! As always you are inspiring and motivating.. I will definitely check out the video.

Regards,

Naomi

[Naomi Singh]

Dear Rituu,

Having genuine friends really do help! It's very healing and calming and does serve to keep us in check!

 

Regards,

Naomi

[Naomi Singh]

Dear Michael,

I do agree with you. Let's make an epidemic of goodness! This is one sickness I will welcome .. LOL!

[Naomi Singh]

Dear Laurence,

 Hmmmm... when I think of what a good person is, I have to think in the confines of my own perspective since I would guess others will differ in their definition.

 A good person to me is very genuine and honest with self and others. A good person recognizes his/her strengths - and limitations. A good person also recognizes that there are those around him/her who are as human as he/she (maybe even better in some ways). A good person though treats people the way he/she would want people to treat him/her - more or less with respect, appreciation and like (if not love). A good person, however, doesn't believe that everyone is in turn good, but doesn't allow that fact to cloud his/her judgement of others. A good person recognizes that people are after all human beings (blood, bone and flesh) -and experience feelings the same as he/she (even if there are those who may be better at burying or hiding or denying feelings better than he/she does!) A good person doesn't prey upon the weaknesses of others, but pray about those weaknesses with compassion and understanding.

 It takes strength, courage and great humility to be good today, I must admit. Those are the strengths that I am currently working on. I am cultivating spirituality, morality and responsibilty to self and others - as much as my humanity will allow it.

 

In terms of cultivating self-love... It's fairly simple for me - I do not define myself based on the views and opinions of others. I am very aware of my strengths as well as my weaknesses (yes, I do have those too!). I try not to take EVERYTHING personally (in fact I think deeply upon criticisms - there may be valid points there!)People obviously would feel or not feel certain ways about me, depending on what their comfort level is. They are entitled to their thinking and feeling. If I want to change their opinion of me, I work towards that. If I don't, I don't invest the effort. It's not important to me to have EVERYONE like me. That's too much WORK! I am very honest and straightforward. I don't pretend to be what and who I am not - that too is too much work and it's EXHAUSTING always having to wear a mask and pretend.

When I am helping others with developing self love I give them these tips: Stand in front of a full-length mirror naked (physically and in all other ways - take those blinders off!) Look at yourself with uncritical eyes - THE PERSON YOU SEE IS WHO YOU ARE! Then ask yourself these questions: Do you love that person? If you do - why? If you don't - why not? Is loving yourself based on people's view of you? If that's the case - why is that so important? If you have to survive if nobody liked or loved you, or the persons you want love from don't love you or even like you - would that make you feel less than who you are and why? What would make you happy? Are these achievable? Are they moral? Do you need outside help? Who would you go to and why?  ... and so on.

 

I hope I answered your questions satisfactorily.

 

Warmest regards,

Naomi

[Laurence Gilliot]

Hi Naomi,

 

Thank you for sharing your dream so openly.

I wonder: why do you want to be a good person? What is a good person for you?

Also, how do you cultivate self-love? This seems to be the key starting point to change the world, so what are your strategies to meet your dream? 

 

Cheers,

 

Laurence

[Michael Mc Garrell]

Lovely dream you have there Naomi. i to believe that it starts with us. It always comes back to the fact that we are humans, and  there is nothing that can change that. If we treat our neighbours like we treat ourselves then we can have such a great environment to live in. People will begin to respect each other, and there would be so much love flowing that people would not have time for fighting wars. It all starts with me first though. I as an individual have to start with me, after me i can move to my family, then to my community and so on...

 

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Dear Naomi,

 

Thanks for your sharing. For me too change begins from one self. I am constantly working at myself to apply SALT. It always helps me when I am in a circle of friends who are appreciative and authentic. They keep me in check:-) Look forward to more of your blogs. 

Warm greetings from India,

Rituu 

[Gaston]

Your dream reminded me of this video on this same platform: http://aidscompetence.ning.com/video/charter-for-compassion

 

It shows how your golden rule is indeed what we all need! Nothing more, nothing less.