27th December 2025
I constantly catch myself preaching to my cost centres through trite sayings and actions about behaving virtuously and being determined. Treat everyone as you wish to be; you need a good education then you have options; always use your please and thank you; smile and show interest in others; believe in yourself; life is not about being rich – choose a path that makes you happy but you need to be able to pay your bills; respect everyone regardless of their job; show initiative you never know how it will pay off; you don’t give up at low points….it goes on and on and boy, I feel for my Cost centres – it is dull trying to be so positively purposeful…
Conscientious parents (of which I am obviously one) inevitably follow a similar mantra in their patter – work hard, be good. And why? Because life will turn out well if you do. Because if you break these rules then the consequences could be dire. The out-turns won’t be unexpected to us your responsible adults. Because we are wise of the world and we know how it works. My parents said it to me and I say it to my Cost centres. In fact it pervades our societal constructs – educational establishments and places of work so for most of us, it is seared into our essence.
But here is the unvoiced confession.
There are so many exceptions to the out-turns of these rules, it makes you wonder what the rules really are. That is doing all the right things to live a good life, be an upstanding member of society, is not a linear relationship; in fact it may not even be a causal association. It’s technically…fuzzy. Sometimes output or outcome has nothing to do with input because people are gifted, there are factors and circumstances out of our control, timing is everything and let’s face it – we might not be good enough.
So where from does the rallying call about how to acquit life derive from?
For a start it is embedded in many of our current and ancient religions or beliefs. For example Karma, in Hinduism, Buddhism suggests intent and actions have consequences for your future – in this life or the next. Good, solid intent and actions will deliver goodness in return and vice versa. Divine justice such as in Christianity invokes God and the idea of a higher power judging our right and wrong behaviour with holy repercussions in the current life. Unless there is repentance this bleeds into the after life with the movement of our soul into heaven or hell. Ancient Egypt assumed the celestial force of Ma’at exerted control over individuals through principles of behaviour (including duty, kindness). Your success in adherence to these principles was judged in the afterlife by the weighing of the soul (of the heart) against a feather of Ma’at. Lighter meant entry into heaven.
But we don’t only have to turn to religion to see the golden thread of righteousness and endeavour tugging at triumph. In mythology – Hanuman in ancient Hindu stories was a devoted and hardworking being, thus revered for his successes; Hua Mulan an idolised Chinese legend was noted for her bravery and loyalty receiving honours when she returned home. Hercules tormented by Hera undertook penance through 12 dangerous labours (and was victorious) exemplifying perseverance and courage. It is also seeped into the lifeblood of the tales of our modern day super heroes. Consider Marvel and the DC worlds.
I recognise these may be selective examples to substantiate this clarion cry. But more convincingly are aspects of our psyche suggesting effort to work hard and treat our fellow humans well is innate in most of us. Through our desire to believe in a just world – where industriousness is rewarded and bad deeds are punished. We attach moral worth to hard work (regardless of output) – using it as a short cut to assess others particularly partners or allies. In the need for rationalisation and some semblance of choice or personal agency, we feel it is appropriate to justify anothers suffering or mis-fortune and see ourselves as deserving. And we revel in our merits being recognised by those around us rather than having attainment bestowed by factors outside of our control.
I’m well aware achieving success in life (and we can debate the meaning of success) is not just about hard work and behaving. There is plenty we cannot control or we simply do not have the circumstance or ability to make it a reality. I would go as far to say luck in life is underestimated with the branches of our future being drawn as we live. However I am a believer in hard work and a generally respectful attitude improving your luck. Sprinkle in a little ego with a side of unscrupulousness and well, you have another one of my trite sayings to my Cost centres….
Curiosity and the rascal 