Are we all the person we want to be? And are we living the lives we want to live?

The only ones to answer this question and to do something about it are ourselves. I like to be a realistic idealist who is doing what is the best for the people around me and the society. However sometimes everything is not that straight forward.

So what should guide us in the pursuit? Our brains, our hearts or the rules and norms of our society?

When we follow our brains we may come up with the rational best solution but what about forgiveness, kindness, humanity and all the other irrelational, yet important factors as well? When we follow our hearts, we may want the best for others, we may stay true to ourselves but we may also get fooled, we may make too irrational conclusions, and in the end harm more people than help them as we have not analyzed the whole situation. When we follow the rules and norms of our society, we may always be able to justify our actions because we can refer to the rules and norms, we may have a common ground with others. But we may also be too rigid in our decisions and actions. We may miss out on great opportunities and we may be blind to the fact that the rules and norms are not the right ones to follow.

Life is not easy and nobody promised us it would be. Being who we want to be and live the life we want to life constantly requires that we consider our actions and the consequences of our actions. What may have seemed the right decision when it was analyzed in regard to both brain, heart and rules and norms, may no longer be valid. It may have seemed the right decision when trade-offs were consider between the three directions. However, everything changes… and old actions need to be reconsidered, new actions may be required… Only when one denies to reevaluate ones actions and decisions or when one is blind to what the true consequences have been then the person is losing sight of who the person wants to be.

To be a realistic idealist it requires of me that I find the balance between all the three directions. I need to rethink them and still be humble to their original forms. I will make mistakes along the way. Those who do not make mistakes have not taken great enough chances.  My challenge is to realize my mistakes, try to correct them and move on to the next decision and action.

Our greatest mistake would be to let our previous mistakes hold us back from taking the needed and the right decisions in the future.  I have a dream, and nothing should stop me from keep pursuing it!