I’m sure some of you must have forgotten the 36 moral values for SPM examinations. The most prominent one was rational value. Die die also you need to memorize its definition because that value can be used in any situation pertaining to the exam question paper. You’re unsure about what value to put, then the smart way to hentam is to put rational. However, are we truly embodying the moral value of being a morally beneficial person in society?
First of all, what does it mean to be a good person? How can we define ourselves as great human beings? Sure, apart from not murdering someone or committing a heinous crime, we all can be classified as angels. There’s a deeper underlining meaning to being just a good person. Sometimes you have to be an arsehole in order for people to see the good side in you. May not make any sense to you now but let me explain.
I’ve been recently been fascinated by the author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller over 3 million copies sold, The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, Mark Manson and what he has to say. I stumbled upon his article on Why Being An Asshole Can Be A Valuable Life Skill, and it definitely will change your perspective. I’m not saying you need to be a full blown out asshole that shouts at the janitor/ waiter or having no form of manners while interacting with people, but a subtle art to tweaking the arsehole side in you may just save your life and earn respect.
For example, Manson mentions about how you need to get good at feeling bad by being honest to the people around you. Deciding what’s more important than people’s feelings are also one of the ways of being an ethical asshole.
Why do people who dare commit unspeakable actions to be one of the most respected people in their time?
There is also some other way you can become a, dare I put it, a respected asshole. Just look at our historical figures who were respected for their way of leading a group of people more than their cause. Adolf Hitler, Mahatma Gandhi, Henry Ford, and many more. Why do people who dare commit unspeakable actions to be one of the most respected people in their time?
If you look at Hitler’s personality traits, he’s an intelligent man that knows how to convince people towards the greatness of his cause and certainly knows how to capture people’s attention. However, obviously, he is a cruel man by killing millions of people in the Holocaust alone and not a single guilt in his body. That’s what separates Hitler in being evil from a good asshole.
Always practice what you preach or just simply change your speech.
In my opinion, a good-one-of-a-kind-human-being of an asshole means to not be a downright hypocrite. The term “sometimes the nicest people you meet are covered in tattoos and sometimes the most judgmental people you meet go to pray in a religious place”. I’ve experienced this way to many times but to agree. Now before y’all get your panties twisted, not all people who go to pray in religious places are a hypocrite but all I’m trying to say is to not judge a book by its cover and that includes for everyone. Always practice what you preach or just simply change your speech. If you can’t determine right from wrong, then maybe, just maybe, you lack empathy and not religion. Something you all should reflect from.
Next up, being able to stand up for yourself is another trait I would say could earn you whole lotta self-respect. As you grow up, you’ll start to realize that friends or family may come and go, relationships come and go but it’s that way you respect yourself enough to walk away from things that you know does not bring happiness to your life. Yes, you may have encountered the difficulties of cutting off friendship and toxic relationship at one point, but that only makes you a more admirable person and respect written all across your face. Though you may have looked like the jerk that walked away, trust me, you are winning so much more in life as you’re putting your positive vibes first than being comforted in your own web of lies.
I’m always known to be the “too nice” person until it came to the point where I’ve been taken advantage of from people around me, so I decided to stop being overly nice and know the worth of myself. That’s why this article piece inspired me to write about being kind to one another but also tuning to that asshole side (when it requires) that everyone could respect. Let’s be honest, being all asshole all the time won’t work.
To end, I would like to quote from Mark Manson from his article (link above), “I believe that if more of us were able and willing to “flip the asshole switch,” the world would be a better place”. Agree?