Exploring Your Values: A Journey of Personal Growth
Every now and then, every person should seriously consider what and who they really are and where they fit into this society.
Not many people seriously contemplate what they truly believe in; they simply go through the motions of life dragged on by ever-changing mores’ and values. Every now and then, every person should seriously consider what and who they really are and where they fit into this society. The Black individual, especially, should reflect on their value system; beliefs and traditions and consider whether this is what they want or for their children to grow into and practice.
In all areas of lifestyle including political views, occupational training and skills, natural talents, educational goals, child rearing, and social networks, people must ponder each of these areas as to their own beliefs in connection to the changing of times. For example, our parents may encourage us to get a good job and keep it, save for retirement, and in the meantime raise a family.
However, times have changed. Job security is not promised, government social security is threatened, and immorality surrounds our children each day making it more difficult to implant good values into their minds beyond the gook that society pushes on them.
With considerations such as these, an individual will either succumb to the social pressures and changes or devise a plan to make these social changes work to their benefit. If one becomes just another cog operating in the structure of the times, they will be downsized, laid-off, financially insecure, and have children that do not respect the values of our elders before us.
To combat the changes, a person must rethink their values and create a strategy to survive against today’s forces. For instance, instead of trusting in and depending on any company to secure your future by promising you a job for life, one must always have a plan B in the workforce. Personal skills and hobbies can be turned into money-making ventures and entrepreneurship should become a conversation at the dinner table.
Education is not just a young person’s choice anymore, older people are returning to school to further their education than ever before. Furthering education and training in specialty areas fits into the structure of economic outsourcing trend the country is now facing. Securing contracts with larger companies as a home-based business has become popular.
No more can a person depend on the social security system to be there when they reach retirement age, in fact the retirement age has risen over the past 40 years to the point where seniors 70 years of age continue to work. Taking advantage of the 401K plans (that are also undependable against today’s economy) and or investment planning are strategies being encouraged by economist and political lawmakers.
Furthermore, moral values once used for raising children have diminished tremendously over the past 40 years. The traditional concept of abstinence, which was only natural before the era of birth control, has subsided and given way to safe sex education, which has given way to more incidences of STDs, the rising rates of teenage pregnancies, and many other problems causing dysfunctional families.
Rethinking your position of politics is another serious consideration, especially for Blacks. Simply because your parents were Democrats, are Democratic values really what you believe? Times were different then. Today, liberal thought has moved further to the left bringing more immoral lifestyles and practices with it. Do you agree with abortion? Do you believe in birth control? Do you truly support homosexuality? Is it right to not discipline your children with spankings by practicing the new-age lessons of “time out?”
What happen to the daughter bringing the boyfriend home to meet the parents instead of her having to sneak around or skip classes? Why not teach your son the traditional ways of chivalry and having respect for women instead of allowing Rap and Hip-Hop to dictate their values. Why not return to the traditional family life where the father works and supports his family while the wife stays home and raise the children building character in them?
These are issues that a person should rethink about themselves and their values. It could make a big difference in their future and the future of their children. No one has to be dragged around by the changing times and all the inconsistencies within. Every person has the natural right to think for themselves and the opportunity to live life the way they believe it should be lived. Now go and rethink your values.
