It's all perception of right and wrong. Thinking you are always right is naïve, and thinking you are always wrong is a sign of weakness. But do you know what is worse? Basing your life on other people's opinions. Becoming a student of life should be our major philosophy. Anyone who is a follower of anybody or anything is bound to fail, no matter what. I think it is up to you to figure out the difference between a student and a follower.
What is far worse is adopting other people's philosophy without doing your own research and forming your own ideology. Just because an elderly person gives advice does not mean they are right. I am not saying they are wrong anyway, but you be the judge. Make sure whatever you do is the end product of your own final conclusion. Think and act; don't act and think.
Don't just take another person's philosophy because it sounds good. And what a comfort I have when I find out we are not born to do the same thing. We have different assignments, which makes some of your philosophy useless to me. I am not saying they are not right, but they might be wrong for me.
When you understand your assignment and your purpose, then you can easily do away with noise. You know where to take your advice from and form your own opinion.
All I am saying is that no one is right or wrong; it is just a matter of perspective. But what is important is that you form your own personal philosophy. Don’t form yours from random people or from content creator.
I also think it is important that you don't advise others if you have failed to form your own philosophy. Don't lead people the wrong way. Here you are advising people not to go to school, and you are not telling them exactly what to do without education. You even fail to tell them the essence of education itself. Don't advise someone to go for a master's programme (example) when you are not even sure of a reasonable reason. When they ask you, "Why should I get this degree?" you just reply, "Just have it, it will be useful." Help people find reasons and purpose. Don't just give advice out of your own fear and assumed opinions.
At the end of the day, you are responsible for forming your own opinion. If others do it for you, you might fail completely.
Let me give you a scenario of myself. Having a good perspective of what you need to do at certain times.
I was jogging one morning at my usual spot when, all of a sudden, I stumbled and fell heavily on a stony path. Instinctively, you can probably guess the first thing that came to my mind. Exactly, I looked around, not for help, but to make sure no one saw me in that state.
I did not first check if I was okay, wounded, or bleeding. Instead, I worried about people who were not even in my pain or situation. Is that bad? I do not think so. But today, thinking deeply about it, I realized there is a deeper meaning behind it.
Most times in life, we find ourselves in situations where we should check on ourselves first, care for ourselves, and focus on healing. Yet, instead, we worry about how others will see us, what they will think, or what they may say things that often do not truly matter. Maybe nobody really cares as much as we think. Maybe most of those fears exist only in our minds, while everyone else is busy fighting their own battles. And even if they do laugh or talk, life still moves on.
To this day, I do not know whether anyone saw me fall or not. Since, I looked around and saw no one that day. But one thing is certain: I picked myself up, bruised and shaken, and continued jogging.
Whether anyone saw me or not, I still had to move forward.
Whether they laughed or not, I still had to continue.
One important lesson I learned is this: whenever I pass through that same spot again, I become more careful so I do not fall the same way twice. Life mistakes can work the same way they become lessons, warnings, and reminders to walk wiser.
My opinion?
Do what is right for you. Value your self-worth. Prioritize your self-care. Sometimes, nobody is judging you as much as you think you may simply be overthinking.
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