Ripple Reflections

“I wanted to change the world. But I have found that the only thing one can be sure of changing is oneself.” 

― Aldous Huxley, Point Counter Point

An issue I've recently grappled with an immense deal, I find my thoughts in limbo as I grow to understand the conditions and pre-requisites to produce change. Change is not dictated upon or controlled, but rather is activated. None of the great game changers of history seemed to set out with the goal of changing the world. Rather, these intellectual ancestors found a focus and a passion, something they could latch onto and believe in as individuals. With that passion and that enthusiasm, they gained momentum in the form of others. The goal isn't to understand society, and it isn't to implement change. Rather, it becomes an issue of understanding oneself. Making your sliver of the world the best it can be.

One of the most effective ways I can see that come to fruition is through my writing. I find myself writing here today not for calibre or quality, but rather to put forth my unbalanced thoughts. I do not know if this piece will yield any success or results other than to my own intrinsic value. What I do know is that I'm seeing a transition in my belief system. Where I once found myself unsettled and disturbed with the state of the world, ready to call to action an uprising and change, I knew not the difficulties that would ensue. Most notably the idea that I would have to change the minds of men and women who abhor the notion of change. Fear dictates much more ruthlessly and unforgivingly than that of hope and optimism. Yet, progress come from the latter and not the former.

I once found myself at odds with a very trusted and dear friend of mine. The argument fell on the exact notion which has become the topic of this piece. While I exclaimed the flaws of the world and how they must be revised, he calmly enforced his beliefs that our own corner is all that we can be responsible for. While I initially took that as his sparking of enlightenment happening after he had been too conditioned by the very society I sought to modify, I've come to realize the credibility of his notions. More importantly, he hadn't imposed his own beliefs on me, but respected where I was coming from. I now assume that he silently accepted my beliefs and attributed them to my own quest towards wisdom. I know that now and respect him all the more for his patience with me.

I know that the best medium that I can elicit any change is indirect. That is to say, I must convey my beliefs via the limitations of written word, as difficult as it may be. I often tease myself with the idea of censoring or revising my writing, not for mass appeal, but for my own sanity. On the contrary, I have in recent time, come to realize the err of my ways and since stuck to the firm notion that my best and worst writing will come from heartfelt writing, not safe writing. The benefits are a ripple effect, resonating heavily with myself and my own agendas, then spreading wider to the eyes of the reader. In that respect, writing is a selfish endeavor, with altruistic ulterior motivations. Few would see it in such direct contrast due to the positive gains to be made by both parties, yet it is what it is. 

I seek out the beauty of words for their complexity and simultaneous limitation. It is a frustrating endeavor and one of self-motivation and great grief. I often find great difficulty in composing passages or making realizations, no matter how cryptic I allow my prose to become. The important thing I keep in mind is letting the prose become, rather than imposing my "I" upon it. The Ego is many a great foe to the mind of man. Much like what I believe to be a fundamental point of raising a child, one cannot impose themselves too much upon their child, literal or metaphorical. The result of such processes will yield only disdain and remorse; an uninspired and conditioned believer who yields to the norms because they know no other way. Or even worse, one may find themselves in a coup de'tat, their hard work turning against them. I believe this to happen in many households, the parental delusion being that one must force norms and the values that one holds upon their kin. Complacency is stagnant. One must work to progress themselves and lead by example, not by an iron-clad fist. Experience dictates values, not the other way around.

I leave you today with one final notion, and that is one of tremendous graciousness. Taking the time to read anything created by the mind of another demonstrates a capacity to grow and progress. It shows determination to make oneself a better human being, if only taking away one facet of knowledge or one particularly resonating sentence. Never stop reading. Never stop learning. Take the advice of Huxley and use it to make others enthusiastic about something. Anything. Enthusiasm promotes change.