The Gift on the TV.

Imagine you take the kids shopping. They keep bugging you to buy them a toy, and since you’re in a good mood, you decide to buy them each a toy. They all want to open the toy boxes right in the store, but you say no. You tell them they can play with the toys when you get home.

You get in the car, and they still insist on playing with the toys, but you say no again. When you get home, you find out that you have company, so the toys go straight into the closet. The kids start playing with the visiting kids and forget about the new toys, just as you do.

A week or so passes, and you get a call from a charity asking for toy donations. You consider donating the toys but worry that the kids will be upset if they find out you gave the toys away before they could play with them.

God has blessed us all with gifts, and some of us put those gifts aside, hoping to enjoy them later. Life often gets in the way, and we keep postponing enjoyment, thinking we’ll have time on the weekend or when we retire. But sometimes, that time never comes.

As time passes, you receive a call from the doctor’s office, asking you to come in for further testing because they found something concerning. You leave the doctor’s office with bad news and sit in front of the TV, staring blankly at the gift you never got to enjoy. You feel like screaming and crying, just like those kids who never got to play with their toys.

A successful life must be fulfilling both intellectually and physically. If you focus only on intellect, managing finances while neglecting physical needs like food, sex, and love, you’re missing out on life’s essence.

Become the CEO of your own life, responsible for all its departments, not just finances. You can’t selectively fear and prioritize money alone. Remember, if you amass wealth but lose your health, you can’t enjoy what you’ve saved. Balance is essential in all aspects of life.

Since life is temporary, engaging in physical activities is actually an intellectual choice. Strive to find a balance between intellect and physicality.

Everyone has a life story, and how we respond to it determines our fate. You can obsess over control or accept the inevitable, knowing that our mortality is the ultimate truth. Don’t let the fear of external and internal problems consume you.

If you examine closely, you’ll see that your controlling nature often leads to psychological and spiritual issues. Instead of trying to control everything, accept the reality of mortality and adapt accordingly.

There’s nothing wrong with exercising healthy control. Man is the driver of their life, with God as a guide rather than a controller. We’re endowed with free will to evolve and realize our potential.

Believing that God controls everything can lead to passivity. Instead, acknowledge the power of individual decisions. Don’t succumb to religious manipulation that undermines personal agency.

Today, religious extremism perpetuates conflicts and denies individual freedom. We must empower the youth with education to transcend religious boundaries and embrace individual spirituality, connecting us all.

As individuals, we have a limited time on Earth and a responsibility to live fully, not merely exist. Reject the politics of belonging that hinder personal growth. Live by the philosophy of reciprocity, giving and taking in balance.

Democracy

There has been an overwhelming number of comments, and several people have been asking me to write a little longer with a little more explanation and detail, so this one is for them. If you don’t like that much material, please keep in mind it is on the request from the other readers. If you would like me to write in detail about a certain subject, please write the title of the post, so in the future, I can write a sequel from the post.

Anyway, this is so far the best way of governing ourselves, and it’s called Democracy.

I am going to talk about this most desired governing system by the most educated people of the world. I will present it as it is. I don’t have any political favorites or dislikes in this matter. I believe it has its flaws and is not perfect. It can be used to divide people for political purposes just like religions or God. You still have to compare it with other systems to come to conclusions regarding the effectiveness. If I compare it with other systems, democracy protects human rights the best so far.

If you find your favorite to be something else like communism, socialism, Kingdoms, dictatorships, or religious governing systems, then I would agree to disagree, so I would expect the same from you because I am not arguing. I am simply trying to educate those who want to learn.

“One man, one woman, one vote” has become a thing of the past. Nowadays you have to make some changes according to the changes in society. Sexes and everything in-between have to be counted equally as well. As long as you pass the criteria of the genetics that you are a human being and at a certain age, you are one vote. That is the foundation of the modern democratic system.

If you want to have real meaningful democracy, you have to have the individual awareness of a CEO who can understand those voting rights first. You can’t just be voting democratically if you are influenced by the running person in any way, be it a relative, friend, or someone you just know. Especially, you can’t just vote because you have the same religion or have conservative ideology in modern-day civilization. You have to vote with the best-educated estimation.

Times have been changing and we have been evolving with human rights. At some time, they will clash with our old ideologies and would make it harder to govern societies. If you look around, that is what’s happening all over the world right now. This can only change when the ordinary Joe becomes educated enough to vote for the real purpose of voting. It is all about peaceful and comfortable living in a human community.

You bring democracy to the religiously torn countries, you will have the fundamentalists gain power from both sides, just like in the Israel and Philistine situation. If you can call that a democracy, it is your personal opinion. I would respectfully disagree because an educated individual should vote beyond the sense of belonging to a religion and just for security. The sense of belonging to humanity and human rights should be the priority. If we all can live peacefully in the Western countries regardless of our background, then there is no excuse for the people all over the world. My question is: If Israel were not a Jewish state, would Philistine matter?

When I was in Pakistan, 83% of the population lived in villages. Logically, with such a distribution, a truly successful democracy was improbable, as history shows. Each individual’s vote brings in the people in power who are influenced by religion. Introducing democracy would automatically create chaos because you can’t run the country on religion alone. Religions are and should be the path to spirituality exclusively. As a political governing system, religions fail to provide either, because politics and spirituality don’t mix very well. We have experienced more martial laws in Pakistan than democratic governance in 60 years, yet Pakistan was created by referendum. The chaos is an ongoing process because people don’t want to separate religion from the state.

If you look at religion spiritually, you don’t really need to play politics with it, but there has never been a time when God was not used for political purposes. Ironically, today’s wars among Muslims use God exclusively, with both sides chanting “God is great” before shooting or firing something to kill other Muslims. Poor God must be shaking his head in disgust.

These days, most civilized or developed countries are becoming melting pot societies because people are a lot more flexible and tolerant if educated. Mixing different races, nationalities, religions, or family backgrounds is common.

Today’s nations have to accommodate people from different backgrounds and protect their human rights. That itself is bringing a new set of problems because people seem to have sensitivity for and against discrimination, so the court systems have to catch up with fast social changes.

I believe human rights have to be on top of the agenda for every governing system because people seem to become defensive if they have been living a certain lifestyle for a while. When new people come in who don’t want to blend in or resist the changes from their previous lifestyle, conflicts can rise. Without the flexibility to accept and change, or in other words, evolving with the need of time, it is inevitable that clashes will take place; the level of education can dictate to what degree.

Looking at the language issue in Quebec, it’s clearly a sign of the politics of the sense of belonging. It has nothing to do with the identity of being Canadian. Most people in developed countries are generations of immigrants with ties to their previous countries, so regardless of the soft spot for new immigrants, discrimination arises. This discrimination is usually fear-based, which can be easily overcome if people think they are just part of humanity.

If you learn only one thing, that you belong to French, English, or any country you came from, these problems will always persist. Would you believe that this sense of belonging to a group holds you back or slows you down from reaching your potential individually and collectively?

There is a certain number of immigrants required to keep the workforce up and bring tax revenue, so immigration is a crucial part of the system. Some people feel they are just too good for certain jobs, so immigrants have to fill those jobs.

The problem is the sense of belonging, which is behind all kinds of discrimination.

One country can have provinces, territories, and languages, but the real connection is humanity. If your sense of belonging to your group is out of whack, you would be sensitive and fearful of losing your identity, but if your identity is humanity, you have no need to fear. Just like God and spirituality provide all the security without boundaries, religions and countries provide partial security with boundaries.

This language battle brings a story to mind from my childhood. I don’t remember the writer, so I would call it “Author unknown.” The fundamental idea of the story is the same, but I made some amendments to connect it to Canada.

I am going to call it Canada.

”There once was a king who had 13 kids. When he got sick, he called upon all his kids to come and see him. He told everyone to bring two sticks along. Everyone showed up, and they were told by him to pull one stick out and break it. Without a doubt, they all were able to do that. Then he told them to make a bundle with the rest of the sticks and try it again. Of course, no one, not even the strongest one, could break the bundle. So the old king told them to stick together like the sticks so no one can break you.”

Even though I gave the example of one nation, deep in my heart, my desire is that humanity can stick together so we can combat our issues like global poverty, hunger, health, security, even global warming and related issues as one humanity.

In melting pot societies, you can’t distinguish the identity of the individual. There is a mixture of black and white, brown, yellow, red, or even all-color kids. Religious and cultural mixtures have been going on for a very long time, so every identity is blurred, but one fact stands strong, and that is the individual spirituality for humanity.

Especially in mixed societies in this day and age, you just can’t govern in any other way without considering human rights because all groups discourage individual interaction.

It all boils down to how we identify human beings. If a person’s genetics make them different, they should not be discouraged, yet they are, and interestingly, efforts to discourage them have historically failed and continue to do so. If someone qualifies as a human being, their rights must be protected, meaning religion, race, or nationality should take a back seat. We must accept this reality and stop discriminating against individuals who had no choice in their creation process.

No one, not even a religion or nation, should have the right to discriminate against an individual who qualifies as a human being. As human beings, we should be able to vote for other human beings to govern us. While our political systems may vary, the purpose and desire to run the system remain the same. We aim to send our best to govern, and if they don’t do the job, we can replace them every four years. It’s a great system, only if it functions ideally.

However, when elected, members of parliament often find themselves as mere backbenchers, regardless of the number of votes they received. For example, an MP from a thinly populated area up north might receive far fewer votes compared to one from densely populated areas like Toronto. Thus, the number of votes can’t be accurately compared between urban and rural areas. An MP may receive a large number of votes but fail to achieve a high-ranking position due to political maneuvering. They may become a backbencher regardless of their vote count.

The successful political party forms a government with its brightest minds, regardless of their origin. This means that power lies in the hands of the party leadership. While most people vote based on a political party’s ideology, sometimes there are hidden agendas, and those ideologies may not truly believe in the democratic system. Their goal might be to gain power through politics. Once in power, they systematically diminish opposing groups through negative propaganda until they are marginalized.

All political parties should be transparent about their agendas and should be accountable to democratic values. In a democratic society, all parties should be legally bound to uphold democratic values and protect human rights. This ensures that when they come to power, they are compelled to follow these criteria. In societies with vast differences in thinking, party systems in a democratic society are essential.

The principle of majority rule is fundamental to democracy, but is it always upheld? In reality, our party system often undermines this principle. The number of votes doesn’t always matter; it’s about securing seats and positioning preferred individuals in power, regardless of their vote count. Politics often distorts these processes, and while no system is perfect, it’s our responsibility to make the best of what we have.

Democracy, flawed as it may be, is still better than dictatorship, communism, monarchy, or religious governance. Yet, what is deemed right or wrong can be subjective and sometimes undemocratic.

When political affairs require the brightest minds, the number of votes becomes irrelevant. One thoughtful individual can steer a ship full of emotionally charged individuals by anticipating future problems. However, a compassionate individual can also teach people to govern with empathy and emotional intelligence.

The key difference between running a business and running a country is that in governance, it’s the ruling party that can be ousted, not the other way around. Therefore, believing that a good businessman would make a good political leader is not necessarily true.

If we look further to international organizations like the United Nations, they should also be based on democratic values. However, the veto power held by powerful countries undermines this principle. It’s not about what’s right or wrong; it’s undemocratic.

When democratic systems claim to uphold democratic values but openly use undemocratic practices, it’s purely politics. It’s better to clean up these practices rather than deceive. While the affairs of democratic organizations may be overseen by their brightest minds, this doesn’t always equate to true democracy, especially when one vote per person isn’t a reality. In underdeveloped countries, large populations often don’t translate to democratic representation.

The members of the United Nations are diverse, including kingdoms, authoritarian dictatorships, and religious governments, alongside the veto system. Power isn’t necessarily related to democracy; it’s always been tied to politics. Politics isn’t inherently wrong; it’s just politics. It should be managed carefully by the brightest minds of humanity. Humanity has been evolving and will continue to do so until we reach our potential, so until then, no system is flawless.

In my opinion, anyone seeking political office should study political science and learn how to govern. No one should be allowed to hold office without the necessary education. If someone is wealthy, politics shouldn’t be seen as another adventure; it should be taken seriously, and education should be mandatory.

Compassion is crucial in governance; sheer logic isn’t enough because sometimes the numbers don’t add up. Democracy has its flaws, but it’s proven to be better than any other system mankind has tried. It will continue to improve as we evolve because it’s not limited like religious governance systems are.

Most religions focus on society as a whole but disrespect individual free thought or free will. They shun the strong-willed and attract the weak and vulnerable. Fear of God, death, punishment in the afterlife, and greed for heaven are used to control individuals.

Human rights, on the other hand, focus on individual freedom, free speech, and dignity. Throughout history, murderous regimes and dictators have used religions to gain power and control populations. Religious governance uses fear and promises of rewards to control individuals, leaving them damned whether they believe or not.

Religious institutions often amass vast wealth through monumental buildings and other costly endeavors, demonstrating the lucrative nature of religion. From architects to money laundering, signs of manipulation by the powerful are evident.

Ordinary people seek spirituality but often end up being manipulated by politics, making them vulnerable to exploitation. This is why individual awareness, dignity, and human rights are crucial; the individual is responsible for their life, yet society carries on beyond their life.

When the powerful manipulate governance systems, the importance of the individual is lost. The greater good becomes secondary to the politics of control and power. Whether it’s God or man calling the shots, the bottom line is the politics of control and power.

Democracy, with its one vote per person principle, has flaws. Sometimes, an individual with millions of votes becomes a backbencher, while someone from a remote area with fewer votes becomes a minister due to resource advantages. Thus, the principle of one vote per person is questionable and often falls short.

 

Who is a Fundamentalist

As we continue to evolve, our knowledge remains incomplete until we reach our full potential. Among us, there are many who passionately believe their knowledge is absolute. This egotistical phenomenon has persisted as long as we’ve been conscious of our existence. Despite learning something new almost every day, we still cling to the belief that we’re right about whatever we hold dear.

Can anyone truly claim to possess complete knowledge? Personally, I feel far from perfect or complete in my knowledge because I’m constantly learning. I prefer to carry a basket of the unknown so I don’t become egotistical about what I know. However, I do hold some strong convictions. I believe it’s vital for all human beings to grasp that we are continuously evolving entities. Until we realize our full potential, our knowledge will never be complete, and with incomplete knowledge, one should not become an extremist. As individuals, we are not mere followers; we are the CEOs of our lives, thus responsible for our actions.

Passionate convictions can lead to extremism, especially when proven wrong. For example, contemporary debates over sexual liberation often revolve around the issue of equal human rights. Even the Supreme Court may find itself divided on such matters, highlighting the changes our world is undergoing.

Rights once considered acceptable can become wrong, and wrongs may become rights. Practices like human sacrifice, sati, killings over religious differences, racism, sexual inequality, and human rights violations have undergone such transformations over time.

If asked about fundamentalism, many would point to religious extremists. However, upon deeper reflection, one might find that atheists can also be fundamentalists. It’s the fervor one invests in their belief system that defines fundamentalism, regardless of the issue at hand. While religious fundamentalists have the right to believe in their path to God, actions like extremist violence cross a moral boundary, negating any claim to spirituality.

Fundamentalists often believe their knowledge is superior and seek to impose their beliefs on others. This inherently creates a political situation where spirituality is overshadowed. In a truly spiritual world, nothing but the truth should prevail.

Humanity’s constant evolution renders it impossible for anyone to claim complete knowledge. Denying someone their human rights leads to racism, religious extremism, and prejudice.

Fundamentalism arises from the belief that one’s knowledge is absolute, for or against any subject. It’s crucial to recognize the changes humanity has undergone and is experiencing.

Our understanding of God, religion, and spirituality varies widely. Instead of imposing our beliefs on others, we should learn to agree to disagree, fostering mutual respect.

Education systems must be reconsidered if we truly desire world peace. Inner peace, achieved through individual reflection and acceptance, lays the foundation for global harmony.

Humanity’s strength lies in unity, just as a family’s strength lies in tolerance and understanding. We must transcend our differences to protect our collective future.

By educating individuals to embrace diversity and reject dominance, we can transform nations and religions. The individual is the cornerstone of humanity, and their well-being should be our top priority.

Brewing change.

Every progress, especially regarding social changes, comes with a price. Conservatives, who are comfortable with the status quo, resist change. We see every group, from race to sexual identity, having to fight for humanity to reach a point where human rights override and prevail over all our traditions and customs to become common-sense law.

Humanity has been, is, and will be going through changes as we evolve. Some people still don’t believe that humans are evolving entities. Sure, we don’t grow horns or wings, but we’ve been changing and evolving in every department of human knowledge you can think of, except for religion, of course.

Religious people are typically against change because they desire us to be frozen in the era of the prophets. If you look at countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, populations in villages live and dress as they did in ancient times. I don’t believe poverty is a legitimate excuse; they have honor, pride, and ego ingrained by their respective religions. Religious education does not allow them to adapt with the times, so they still fight over even the simplest things, like food. One group worships the cow while the other kills and eats it. These differences are deeply ingrained and fiercely defended by the populations, yet they share the same society.

Interestingly, here in the midst of Western civilizations, we have religious communities who are similar to those people. While there may not be news of fighting, the differences persist. A few years ago, there was significant news when about four hundred children were apprehended by authorities, only to be returned to their religious communities. Some still believe in having multiple wives and dozens of children right in the heart of North America. Why?

After all the progress of civilization, why do we still have such vast differences in our belief systems? If you look deeper, it’s all about following religious rules and the sense of belonging. Another commonality in these communities is the attempt to block modern education; some even prohibit children from watching television. Despite this, I believe we must remove and grow out of the real culprit behind all this: prejudice.

I believe in individual liberties. Since we are all mortal, we can’t claim that what we believe is right should be imposed on others. It’s fine as long as it’s based on the principle of not doing to others what you wouldn’t want done to you. If you have multiple wives and dozens of children and can provide for them happily, it’s your human right to live however and wherever you please. However, when you start feeling superior to others, that’s where the problem arises.

For example, Native children were taken away from their communities to be indoctrinated by religious people, leaving a mark so deep that the Prime Minister had to apologize for the mistreatment of natives. Now, people want the Pope to apologize as well. Again, the principle applies: don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done to you. Your incomplete knowledge is not necessarily superior, so don’t enforce your belief system; it becomes a political system and loses its spiritual aspect.

A democratic society calls for the majority to create rules and control, but I believe this is a flaw of the democratic system as well. If someone is happily living their way of life, we should not have the power to strip them of their human rights. Prejudice isn’t just about not liking each other; it’s believing that you are better than others.

*Regardless of my criticism of religious rules, I still believe that if you are going to offer people a system of living like democracy, you have a duty to give them something better than what they have. I won’t delve into statistics because I don’t have them, but I firmly believe that if we are promoting something to sell to people, it should be an improvement over their current situation. For example, if you want to promote monogamous marriage to people accustomed to polygamy, you must demonstrate the net benefit to individuals who adopt the one spouse per person system.

If you have a system riddled with problems and a high divorce rate, and you try to impose it on people who have lower divorce rates and fewer problems, you can’t argue that your system is superior. The same goes for exporting democracy to countries with lower education levels; they may struggle to sustain a democratic system when easily swayed by political rhetoric.

Governing a nation with a less educated populace, unaware of their rights, is a dirty business. It not only tarnishes democracy but can also incite chaos, as seen worldwide. The best way to address this issue is to spread knowledge among individuals so they can make better-informed voting decisions. The stronger the individual, the better they can discern the politics hidden behind religious authority.

The purpose of religious education or knowledge of God is to help humans evolve from animalistic behavior, promoting values like love, compassion, sacrifice, and forgiveness. However, I see prejudice being promoted by every religion, and even democracies, so I speak out against it.

One cannot claim superiority simply by belonging to a certain organization; personal character determines one’s worth. If you believe you’ll go to heaven just because you’re Muslim, Christian, or belong to any religion, and everyone else will go to hell, you need to evolve as an individual to grasp the true spiritual aspect of religion.

Just look at history and even today, how religious people incite violence and killing over religious differences. They disregard individual suffering, using the hope of an afterlife to further their political agendas. Spirituality has been trampled by a sense of belonging, whether to religions or empires.

Fortunately, in North America, individuals can leave their religious communities to join modern lifestyles due to human rights and individual freedom. In other places, it’s not that simple; leaving could result in ostracism or even death by conservative societies. Consider the staggering number of people who died trying to flee war-torn countries for Europe; all they seek is a normal life and peace for their children.

Today, human rights, equality, and freedom of speech are spreading like a new religion. Just like every religion or governing system faces challenges initially, we’re going through a tumultuous period. Like other changes, this will take its toll. We’ll overcome this rough time, but it might worsen before improving. I don’t make predictions like religious books, but I believe in humanity. I believe, as individuals, we all have common decency and will overcome our animalistic behaviors.

Ironically, individual freedom, feared by all groups, will connect humanity and dissolve the “us vs. them” concept, eroding group politics, religions, and nationalism. The formation of the European Zone and common currency is a modern-day phase of the changes humanity is undergoing. Countries like Greece may face tough times, but eventually, things will stabilize.

The major problem is our wars, which drain our economies. Wars cost lives and cannot be sustained without consequences. Look at the price tag of the Iraq war. Between the insecurity of war and individuals stashing money away for security, little is left to circulate, leading to lasting side effects that harm humanity.

Regardless, I believe we must stand on the right side of change. Objecting to unstoppable changes always leads to opposition to human rights, as seen in religions and governments overseas. I believe they are gradually becoming obsolete.

Conservatives will resist until the vast majority turns against them. Just as democracy, gender equality, human rights, and freedom of speech triumphed over imperialism, racism, and prejudice, religious prejudice and national superiority will be engulfed by individual awakening.

For now, individuals are confused due to their sense of belonging to their respective groups, but not for long. Eventually, we’ll realize that real security lies in standing together as humanity. Regional, provincial, or federal governing systems will still play a role, but there’s a change uniting people worldwide as humanity.

Our problems point to the solidarity of humanity: climate change, the internet, space exploration, and open education. These are ingredients for bringing humanity together. Will I witness this in my lifetime? Maybe, maybe not, but I can hope. For now, nationalism and religions resist individual freedom, but they also oppose each other, fermenting change.

Once, there were tribes; then nationalism arose, followed by religions spilling over national borders. Now, the same awareness crosses race, religion, and nationalism, uniting people of all colors under the banner of humanity.

Authoritarianism is being challenged by democratic schools of thought globally, indicating humanity’s desire to empower individuals and seek justice for all, which are human rights.

All wars, past and present, have underlying causes, and one of them is individual freedom. Personal insecurities keep individuals confused and fearful, feeding into a sense of belonging to certain groups.

As time evolves us, we’ll learn that we all bleed if cut, hunger when hungry, get sick physically, hurt emotionally, and seek revenge for loved ones killed. We’re all human, still evolving, far from being finished products.

As we learn more about the politics of our groups, we’ll stand together as humanity. Look at education today; Western societies promote individual strength for success in all areas of life, worldwide. Yet, we haven’t solved our democracy-related problems.

Sooner or later, we’ll realize the problems and their side effects. One side effect is strained relationships everywhere, but as a society, we won’t collapse. We’re creating universal healthcare systems and support for the elderly.

As basic education levels rise, we’ll see when we’re being used or exploited by our political leaders, making governance increasingly challenging. This awareness will lead us to belong to humanity, changing the concept of “us vs. them.”

How will we deal with all the changes? Just as we’ve done before. We’re not perfect where we are today; it’s not the destination yet, so we must embrace change. Change has always been part of human societies; we can’t hide from it. The trick is knowing which side to stand on. If you’re educated, it won’t be hard to decide; if you’re not, you might be swayed by popular trends, even if they’re based on prejudice.

 

The Blame Game.

A few years ago, I visited my mother shortly after my father passed away. One evening, we had a conversation that touched on a sensitive topic. Growing up, I had observed my mother blaming my dad for everything that went wrong in her life. Despite this, he endured, and our family remained intact. As our discussion unfolded, I pointed out that despite praying five times a day and fasting yearly, she never truly, deeply, and I mean genuinely believed in God. This revelation shocked her. I explained that my father was just a man, and she blamed him for all her problems. I asked her if she ever considered whether her life story attracted those problems, rather than causing them. This wasn’t what she expected; I wasn’t suggesting blind faith but rather a profound, transformative belief in God. She began to cry, seemingly overwhelmed by guilt or a newfound realization.

For some people, life seems controllable. I don’t dispute the influence we wield, but control is another matter entirely. Seeking control can become habitual, leading individuals to extremes and causing them to forget their mortality. Trying to control everything, even the uncontrollable, sets one on a path that robs them of happiness. Despite all the blessings one may have, they can remain unhappy throughout their life.

I find it peculiar that the closer people are to religion, the more controlling they become. It should be the opposite; a belief system should ease life’s burdens by fostering trust in God.

Certainly, you have agency in your life, but if you choose to exercise it, it should be to live a life of health, happiness, and success. If you’re writing your own story, aim to create inner peace and enjoy the journey because it’s temporary.

Imagine going on vacation to a hotspot; you wouldn’t want the worries and stresses of everyday life to follow you. This short journey will end, regardless of how you write your life story.

If you’re stressed, depressed, or anxious, look closely; you may have what I call a “pit problem.” Constant fear depletes nutrients, leading to physiological symptoms. I believe that by giving spirituality a chance to address the root cause, you may rise above physical ailments.

The awareness of mortality breeds a fear of death, which fuels the desire for control. These twin fears wreak havoc on individuals. Life and death are undeniable facts; there’s no need to fear them. Our expectations spiral out of control, leading to self-imposed deprivations and anxieties.

A CEO understands that life is temporary and shouldn’t be micromanaged. Instead, they control behaviors that rob happiness. If you were the CEO of your life, would you recognize what’s truly beneficial? The question is, are you allowing space for serenity to help you create happiness in your mortal life? (Melody of life)

On a sheet of music, notes alternate with empty spaces. Music emerges from both; without notes, there’s silence, and without empty spaces, there’s constant noise. Neither extreme is suitable for human beings, especially concerning free will.

While meditation can benefit stressed individuals by quieting the mind, it doesn’t solve all our problems. Total silence or becoming a monk can hinder our evolution. Instead, use meditation to center yourself, but continue pursuing growth. Speak when it’s your turn and learn to stay silent when necessary.

Each individual must compose a rhythmic melody of life. Complete silence may hold a spiritual essence, but it doesn’t fulfill us physically like human beings. So, we each write our own music and must use our free will to create a melodious harmony.

If you spend hours beating a drum vigorously, you’ll exhaust yourself and exhibit symptoms of burnout, much like many modern individuals without faith. Find spiritual faith, whether in religion or elsewhere, as long as you don’t believe it makes you superior. Religious prejudice is the cause of many wars. Becoming a CEO can help you understand the spiritual aspects of religions, as well as the political.

We carry memories, but dwelling on past wrongs harms us. Remaining bitter is unjust to oneself and doesn’t create a fulfilling life. The enjoyment of life’s music and the adverse effects of noise are both for us alone.

You must devise a strategy to live a better life, so you don’t carry burdens constantly. This is no easy task for controllers, so learn to be a CEO; it’ll help you discern what’s best for your well-being.

You aren’t solely responsible for your success; you can’t survive without oxygen. Your physiology depends on oxygen to function. Without it, you’re essentially lifeless. Therefore, don’t boast; be humble before your time runs out. Connect with the source and contribute to humanity however you can. It’s not about belonging to religions; it’s about personal spirituality. Your true connection to the source is reflected in your character and practical aid to humanity, not just prayers, fasting, or loyalty to groups.

When you believe in God but blame someone else for your problems, it’s often due to expectations. Whether from yourself, a spouse, partner, or God, these expectations stem from a desire for control. But life isn’t that simple; otherwise, we wouldn’t seek solutions to our problems. God wouldn’t be there to lend a hand, and free will and potential would be meaningless.

In tough times, we become resourceful and build rafts to help ourselves individually and bridges collectively. When something happens, it challenges us to take charge of our lives.

No job, spouse, or religion is worth sacrificing your happiness for; life is temporary. Like a vacation, you don’t want to ruin it by losing your happiness. Being a CEO means not sacrificing your company’s most valuable asset due to misplaced blame.

Each job loss or breakup builds walls higher until you’re trapped within self-imposed boundaries. Ultimately, no individual, group, or even God should have the power to make your life miserable. Fix your belief system and take responsibility for your happiness.

Remember the triangle of health, happiness, and success. Without spiritual, physical, or emotional health, happiness is unattainable. And without health and happiness, there’s no success in life, regardless of how you define it.

The Pearl or Water.

My hat’s off to the writer of this song. I’m sure we all have songs stuck in our minds; they just keep repeating. You can’t shake them off, and I only remember the verse of this song, so I don’t know the author. Quoting it as it is in Punjabi, and I would write it as author unknown. I’ll quote in the original words and then try to translate it into English. I hope the author can find satisfaction in knowing that someone is talking about their work.

“Panwain khey thay Anmole panwain kodian ch tole, Nanon hunjoo bun waggay tarri ishk kahani jay toun samjain taan moti jay na samjain taan pani.”

According to my understanding, which may differ from the author’s, the translation would be: “You can say it’s priceless, or you can compare it to dirt cheap. The story of your love flows out of the eyes like tears. If you understand it, it’s a Pearl; if you don’t, it’s just water.”

I believe we are all cells in the body of God, each worth five bucks, one person at a time. The physical expression of God is mankind, and God is our spiritual expression. That means God lives through us. My way of proving this is that if mankind disappears, no one can understand God, let alone believe in God.

My logical reality says if you ask an Alzheimer’s patient about God, you may not get anywhere fast because the installed knowledge is wiped out by the disease. But the way I see it in this situation, God is there in the people who are taking care of the patients. God is our understanding, which is usually installed in us as we grow up. Thus, this knowledge is highly tainted and influenced by the politics of the sense of belonging.

When you are born into humanity as a human being, you are, by nature, a human being first. The labels you acquire afterward, such as boy or girl, black, white, brown, yellow, or red, Muslim, Christian, Pakistani, Canadian, or any other nationality, belong to secondary categories. But first and foremost, you are a HUMAN BEING.

Let’s start from the beginning: a baby is born into a Muslim household but adopted by a Christian family, or a black baby is raised by a white family. What is that child’s identity? Would we change the status of being a human being? I don’t think so. But when it comes to the sense of belonging, it’s not an easy question.

When someone loves a child, the whole community should respect it because in advanced or educated human societies, love should outweigh our differences.

The reality is, even today, there is still prejudice because of the powerful politics of belonging. The truth is that if you are born as a human being, you are a human being regardless of your color, gender, nation, or religion.

All the knowledge about the differences is installed by the sense of belonging after you are born. Another example, if you are asked to make a fist, you would have no problem unless you are a victim of a stroke, Alzheimer’s, or any disorder that robs you of your mental capabilities. But you would still be a living human being. No one should tell you that just because you are sick, you are no longer a human being. Anyway, you can make a fist with no problem, but that is a learned action. You had a heck of a time learning to walk or speak as you grew up, but after practice, everything becomes second nature. My point is that you have learned all the skills, behaviors, and belief systems from your belonging groups. With practice, they have become second nature to you, but they have the potential to make you something you are not.

A baby is like a brand new computer; the data is added after birth, but the baby comes with all systems running before learning the installed knowledge. What makes the whole package with the potential? What makes an individual pick and choose, mix and match the information, and respond to the actions of others?

Have you ever wondered beyond your installed knowledge? When you look through your eyes in the mirror, who are you looking at? Are you just the computer with the data, or are you looking at the person who lives in your body, who has a name and actually runs the computer?

Have you ever truly reached out to someone, beyond the confines of societal data, or are you stuck in that limited perspective? If you feel trapped, you’ve likely adopted the color of your belonging group, and it’s time to rediscover your inherent individuality.

You are the one orchestrating the complex machinery of your brain, body, and everything in between. You transcend mere data; you’re the CEO, calling the shots.

Though spiritually and physically connected to the real source, data can render you vulnerable, impressionable, and insecure, ripe for manipulation.

If you feel like your wings have been clipped and you can’t soar independently, start communicating with your inner courage.

Do you aspire to be a CEO who’s first and foremost a human being? Then, connect with the true essence within you, not the identity shaped by external affiliations.

Take ownership and challenge the politics of belonging before participating in senseless violence in the name of religion or nationality. It’s akin to harming God one cell at a time; the body may survive, but it suffers greatly. Think of it as God having an autoimmune disorder, which only human beings can remedy.

Your reward will be internal. Assume the responsibility of a CEO, and you’ll comprehend the harm inflicted upon God.

Imagine if humanity pooled their resources to alleviate suffering. Would we still endure starvation, homelessness, and poverty, or national bankruptcy? If united, we could address the suffering afflicting God’s body.

Our evolution is intertwined with God’s; every cell is vital. However, the politics of belonging often obstruct this unity.

Our divisive politics propel us towards the destruction foretold in holy books, yet we each possess the power to shape our lives.

As CEOs of our existence, we must transcend the boundaries of religion and nationality. Let’s cultivate peace and realize the potential intended for humanity by God.

God has bestowed mankind with free will and sustenance; it’s now our responsibility to fulfill our potential.

Can we evolve into a godly humanity, capable of saving lives and alleviating suffering? Or will we succumb to the fate predicted in ancient texts?

Individuals trapped in the politics of belonging are hindered by personal insecurities. If we shed these insecurities and embrace our connection to the real source, we can transcend group identities and belong to humanity as a whole.

Currently, we often prioritize our religious, national, or personal identities over our shared humanity. My fervent hope is for a reversal of this trend, but it can only happen if we collectively understand and act upon it.

God is akin to a pearl if you can comprehend it; otherwise, it’s merely water, regardless of our prayers, fasting, sacrifice, or attendance at mosques or churches. An individual can spiritually benefit from a belief system directly connected to God. However, living within the confines of religions and nationalism can potentially lead to harm. Just observe our history and present riddled with wars.

It’s worth reiterating that if you prioritize belonging to a gang, community, nation, or religion, it’s akin to living in a pond with boundaries. You’re constrained by rules, unable to freely express your thoughts, regardless of your inherent abilities prior to adopting these identities.

The capacity for independent functioning is innate; it’s part of your nature. You can discover it by immersing yourself in the spiritual realm of God, which is vast like space, the internet, or humanity itself. It’s boundless, evoking fear in non-believers yet providing complete security to believers.

By shedding fear, you can transcend death, live life unencumbered, and resolve physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges. Removing fear-related stress can lead to a happier existence.

Imagine yourself standing with one foot in the future and one in the past, metaphorically urinating on the present. Living solely for the afterlife, engaging in violence due to past grievances, causes immense pain to both yourself and God. Understanding God beyond the confines of the politics of belonging is crucial, akin to how a CEO comprehends their responsibilities beyond organizational boundaries.