#028: Virtue VIII: Power

The #1 most common mental issue most men face is mostly Depression. With Depression, there is a lot that could somewhat trigger it's impact on a man's life - from feeling lonely most of the time and even thinking about suicide and that could be from the result of self-narration. With the exclusion of the modern-day stigma on men's mental health, this episode will be mostly a "fadfada" (thinking out loud") type of episode where there are no professional tips or advice. This is just me talking about it... Big up to every man out there fighting their own battles!

Power, a desired trait for some, yet misused by a majority of individuals. Once obtained, one must notice its' downside when being wrongly utilized. It's not just about physical and mental strength - there's more to it. Obeying a constructive individualistic code of practice will always be superior to "showing off" one's high-end lifestyle.

Those who mastered the virtue of patience are destined to win since the main idea of patience isn't about physical stillness i.e, waiting rather it's quite the opposite of that. With effeiency and endurance while still having that attentiveness towards what you seek, there you'll have understood the concept of patience. However those who are impatient, tend to think that everything is somehow in their control in which their emotions may lash out and cause somewhat of an emotional dillema. In the end, patience is really developed through your attitude.

Some would think that discipline is punishment or paying the price of an act of disobedience; that is the traditional description that discipline goes by. However, discipline contains a more simpler yet coherent interpretation to it. The development of one's discipline does not relate to inheritance whatsoever as YOU get to develop that within you through practical methods by the time. Once you've mastered and adapted to discipline, you will come to understand that discipline is misunderstood; discipline is freedom.

To define Honor, it is quite a robust virtue to define as a whole when it is usually underlined under basic values. One should be able to establish and follow a 'code of honor' that helps them keep intact with their own personal virtues and embody them. The big question is....'is honor a forgotten virtue?'

At first instance, one may think about justice in a legal, social, or political term. Individualistic character development is not as complicated as one may seem as it should be utilized as a moral compass. Batman is the best representation of the virtue of justice but not kindness as there are differences in adaptation and interactive measures. But for justice to be fulfilled, one must adapt and master the virtue of wisdom...

The one who lacks wisdom is like an individual who has a spoilt heart that is interconnected with a spoilt understanding. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ ، وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ‏.‏ أَلاَ وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ ‏"‏‏.‏". Wisdom is an essential virtue for character development as it associates with various virtues such as maturity and vision and if one lacks wisdom, he lacks value and what is also valuable. Nevertheless, attaining the virtue of wisdom is easy and self-explanatory.   

Despite the risks and the fearsome feelings towards performing an act, there is still an intention to execute and carry out an act. That is courage. It is such a commendable virtue because you cannot manifest any other virtue without courage, as it makes other virtues possible as said by Aristotle. It is not just found in defensive interactions but also helps build onto one's character, primarily morally. You're probably courageous right now, "but how?" you may ask. Well you're living right now, aren't you?

By living with idea of prioritizing virtues, there is a certainty to live with a maximum capacity to think and act effectively towards events and circumstances. One of the main virtues to implement is control; controlling the intellectual internal system towards external events by thinking more constructively and emphasizing self-mastery over delusions. Get practical by 'taking stocks' (check yourself) as Seneca would say until you have accepted the fact that controlling the controllable is possible and trying to control the uncontrollable is unworkable.

If one allows his mind to think in a way that everything one imagines tends to have a negative outlook and is based on illusionary perceptions yet doesn't have any evidence to prove it is true so then starts implementing habits that seem to be "dopamine material" for this person when it actually isn't, then there is a demonstration of "corruptive thinking". In opposition, one who bases his thoughts on a realistic and logical iteration where these illusions are false and affixes himself on a path of a personal paradigm shift with the use of encouraging internal chatter, then this person has built his mind constructively and effectively.