Narrower Perception of Ethics in present times. Is it affecting our ultimate happiness?

We are continuously striving for a 'good life'. Definition of it are many and different for each individual. Today we will focus on the aspects of the narrower perception of it in the present modern times, and will ask ourselves why it is indeed narrower and are a crisis for the ethical values and humankind.

What is Ethics?

Ethics is as old as humanity itself. In every human person there is a deep desire for good. Human being, by nature tend to ‘good’ – summum bonum. To achieve this good, society provides itself a set of standards which helps guide behaviour, choices and action. One cannot be ethical alone.

Why are we saying the idea of present good life have slanted towards narrower perception of ethics in our daily lives?

We have turned a sophisticated creation into a monster i.e. Money, today all our actions revolve around accumulating as much as we can. Reasons can be many, secured-future, luxury-living, greed, the pleasure of seeing big numbers on our bank statements etcetra. Today, the image of the life one should have is effectively created by media, corporates, businesses, entertainment industry, social media (most handy tool), we have created for ourselves wrong heroes and all this has pushed us toward evergreening-consumerism when our planet is bursting with overpopulation and the resources for all are not enough, even to achieve a basic dignified life.

Today, we suffer from exponential increase in:

1) Mental health problems:

When everyone is running to achieve the perfect life!? We need to ask ourselves, what are the standards and ingredients of that 'perfect life' that we want for ourselves.

• Are we in the process of achieving it, solely thinking only about ourselves?

• Does our actions, harm the other in the way?

• What will be the future consequences of our actions?

If you’re not guided by a clear sense of purpose, you’re likely to fritter away your time and energy on obtaining the most tangible short-term signs of achievement, not what’s really important to you.

2) Environmental damage:

• Endangering Biodiversity,
• Global Warming,
• Water Scarcity,
• Unhealthy Air,
• Forest Fires,
• Climate Change etc.

This all has been the result of our unending greed for materialism and still many are denied their basic human rights.

Major stakeholders in keeping the highest standards of ethical conduct at all times for the present and future generations are Businesses, Governments, Pressure Groups, and Citizens. They are the feedback and backbone of each other. As mentioned earlier, One cannot be ethical alone.

What can I do on daily basis to achieve this?

Act and reflect on the outcomes, asking ourselves:

• What kind of a person, worker, and citizen do I want to be?

• How can my decision be implemented with greater care and attention to the concerns of all stakeholders?

• How did my actions turned out and what I learned from them?

An ethical mind is community-oriented, respecting each other’s views, culture, choices and not enforcing their own, having the potential in agreeing in disagreements. Creating an environment where everyone is heard, respected for achieving excellence together. It’s important to have competition, but a healthy one where everyone is enthusiastic in learning, helping, and lifting everyone up in their respective journeys. There is a place, and role defined for everyone and everyone is equally important to create balance in this world. We need to respect everyone who is making an honest living. And we all truly need to believe...... no one is above, no one is below.

Honesty, Courage, Compassion, Generosity, Tolerance, Love, Fidelity, Integrity, Fairness, Self- Control, Prudence are valuable virtues, if practiced every day, by everyone, builds a virtuous cycle.

We need to stop putting people on the pedestal, only because they have large sums of money, this is setting a very wrong example for us all.

“ A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this word”

Albert Camus