WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024
IBONIO D'SOUZA
We, humans, behave basically in two different ways: the sincere and the insincere. Sincere behaviour comes from adherence to principles, while insincere shows a lack of principles. Principled behaviour makes you a true human being, while unprincipled behaviour makes you an unpredictable character, one capable of even inhuman behaviour.
Principled behaviour is the noblest of all human qualities, and a very important one in society. It makes you predictable to others, who can then anticipate your behaviour before dealing with you. On the other hand, insincerity makes you an unpredictable person. It becomes difficult to understand what kind of attitude you are going to adopt in the future.
Unprincipled way of behaviour comes to us quite easily. When you are in a situation, it does not require much thought to act spontaneously. Without applying your mind, you can follow the advice of the situation. You can easily understand what is in your interest and what is not. So in following the dictates of the situation, you do not need any ideal yardstick to guide you. This kind of behaviour is akin to the flowing water where contours of the surface of the ground determine its path. The one who is insincere is always ready to accede to the demands of a given situation.
In contrast, sincerity is a difficult option. When you are a sincere person, you cannot afford to go against your conscience or moral norms...it is the difference between the two that makes one a difficult option and the other a very easy one. Sincerity invites you to ponder over the situation, to try to choose the best course of action, even if it is against your wishes. Unprincipled behaviour can give you some benefits, but those will not last. Permanent benefits can be achieved only through principled behaviour. Sincere people are able to receive divine inspiration. Sincerity develops one’s spirituality, while insincerity ruins one’s personality. The insincere person betrays his conscience.
The greatest drawback of unprincipled behaviour is that it is a kind of psychological suicide. One who opts for the insincere path first kills his conscience, for without suppressing your conscience you cannot be insincere. Conscience is the moral watchdog in your life. It is the finest gift of nature. One who goes against his conscience is making a self-destructive choice. One should keep his conscience alive by listening to his inner voice. One’s inner voice is the voice of conscience. Acting against the dictates of your conscience is destructive. It is this very behaviour that creates tension or stress in our lives. Hence to ensure a tension-free mind, it is imperative to listen to the voice of your conscience and follow it without any reservation.
In sum, sincerity is not a single value. Sincerity combines all good human values. Where there is sincerity, there are all kinds of moral beauty. On the other hand, insincerity makes you ugly. One great mind summed up all this, saying: “Beauty isn’t about having a pretty face. It is about having a pretty mind, a pretty heart and most importantly, a beautiful soul.”
