“Ya göründüðün gibi ol, ya da olduðun gibi görün” (Mevlana). For those of you who don’t know Turkish, this sentence means either to act as you look or look as you act. Now, what does this all mean? A lot actually. One of it’s several interpretations is to act the way you feel so that people won’t misunderstand you. Words and behaviors should mean the same thing, when either one contradicts itself, it usually leads to unwanted trouble and unhappiness. If we don’t do this simple thing (and by gosh why shouldn’t we when its actually so easy) we could, unwillingly drive away friends, family, loved ones and even new people we have just met.
So your saying to me “It’s nooooot that easy”, yeah I hear ya, and sigh, you’re right.. it’s only hard because the people around you are actually saying one thing and then doing something totally different. Which of course leads you to think that maybe it’s normal to act and think in that way. But if you look closely at such people, you will realize that these people don’t get far in life. Maybe for a while it may seem like it’s actually working out, but in the long run it just falls apart. And when it shatters, nobody wants to be there to help out. Sorry to say, but that’s how life works. But if you want to be set apart from such people and actually do something worthwhile in your life, and always be a winner, then just be sure not to contradict yourself. Hey, being sincere and totally honest can have its embarrassing moments, I can’t deny that (heck I’ve had some myself). You might end up saying or admitting certain things, but you know what, it’s not so bad-why? Well yeah, you might think you’ve done something stupid- if that’s what it’s called, to act like yourself- however, the world works in funny ways, and somehow you are rewarded for your honesty by just being yourself. Sigh. If not, at least you can be proud to say that you are not like those other thousands of people who can’t be themselves.
So, todays lesson is “act as you are, or be as you act” that way you won’t leave yourself or others in weird situations!..
Sibel Muradoðlu (ELIT/IV)
