I came across this quote by Oliver Goldsmith: “You can preach a better sermon with your life than you can with your lips.” It reminds me of this one by Marcus Aurelius: “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
People don’t care what you say. They don’t care what you tell them to do. You could be giving the best advice and want to help them, but it doesn’t matter. You have to show them.
Act on your beliefs and values. Prove your habits result in beneficial change. Relay the knowledge you receive from philosophy by becoming a better person.
Be a better version of yourself day in and day out. Waste no time trying to prove your methods to anyone else. If they ask, discuss. If they belittle, walk away.
We all try our best to figure out the best methods for living our lives. We all experience the world in a unique way and form opinions for ourselves. Someone constantly telling us to do this or that doesn’t do anything but scare us off.
What good is regurgitating knowledge and ideas of “the right way” to do things if you don’t act on them yourself?
Form your own beliefs, build your own habits, and develop your own set of knowledge. Instill it all into your daily life and practices. Become a role model by showing the benefits, not by telling them.
February 16, 2022
