Good day!
I was asked for one of my Philosophy class to write about 3 principles that are important to me. It pushed me to think of what my values were, how I had evolved over the years and how much more I wanted to accomplish in life. Overall that was a great exercise for me, helped frame some concepts and rethink of where I stood. Hope you enjoy!
My first ethical principle is to not judge someone or a situation without seeking understanding. We generally tend to project our own thought processes and beliefs on others: we see life through a specific set of lenses, our own reality; we use stereotypes as a rigid tool to readily assess ones’ abilities and place within society. However, it is important not to come to any conclusions too hastily. By leaving room for doubt and avoiding premature labeling, we may consider the reasons that lead to a particular behavior. Although, as an example, I do not condone acts of violence, I believe it is important to empathize with others, as more often than not, actions stem from deeper and more complicated issues, which could be social, economic or physiological. The more we investigate, the greater our understanding and problem solving abilities will grow
My second principle would be to allow myself to fail. For a great part of my life, I regarded it as the worst denouement: I associated failing with being a failure. This outlook on life confined me to easy and comfortable choices, preventing me from developing new abilities and skills. This fear of challenge stunted my progress until I realized that it was the only and best way for me to grow.
Lastly, my third principle is to continuously self-reflect, and re-assess accordingly. I can confidently say that the person I was 5 years ago is different from whom I am today. With every experience comes an opportunity to learn something new and to fine-tune my personality. Creatively resolve life’s impediments by questioning my own demeanor and practices as I recognize that my inputs have direct or indirect outcomes seems essential. Be aware of the self as a part of a local, domestic and global community encourages me to adjust and positively impact my life’s choices.
Of course, these principles are just templates I aspire to eventually master, maybe one day.
Meanwhile, I am practicing.
What are some of your important principles?
©️ Daphne Mia Essiet, 2014
French Girl in Brooklyn 
I think that these are ideals that everyone should strive for, in a very universal way.
Also, regarding your thoughts on being a minority, I agree that one shouldn’t let that be the end all, be all of his or her existence. But I do think that when you’re lacking resources and everything connected to those resources seems so non-inclusive to the way you look and where you’re from, that’s quite uphill in a way that there’s not much broader recognition for — not beyond rolled eyes, anyway.
Thank you for your comment David. Well these are values I am definitely trying to follow as much as I can. I am not sure of the second part of your comment (meaning), if you could elaborate 🙂
Okay, so you also wrote about race and how people shouldn’t let racism limit their lives, which I agree with. But the challenges that result from the combination of race and class are sometimes more than just something that can be sidestepped. I mean, the world has been crafted to be hierarchal. Of course, any notion that someone is better than someone else is false, but everyday we see that society is counterintuitive to this. Everybody is born with a certain amount of cultural capital. Parent’s wealth. Parent’s education. Parents with values. White skin, or lighter skin. Culture. Gender. Ability or disability. And being black has often been misaligned to always be the opposite of what people are supposed to want. If you’re born into a group that historically has been denied wealth and education, generation after generation, and you’re not lucky enough to have some guidepost of values and inner-strength — plus you live in a world where the culture that’s considered the best considers the way you look to be apart from that, that makes being a well-rounded person very challenging. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t work your butt off to do so, but you’ve got to work
Ok I understand, and I agree. It’s basically about exposure and how one makes sense of their lives. Hopefully the 21st century communication medias, newest technologies and advances in science will allow many more to access education at a lower cost and consequently improve lives.
Okay so I just tried to reply to this, but I think I didn’t finish the last sentence, and then I tried to add a reply to that, If that part went through at all, it may do so twice.