Focus on What is True

I must start this article with a phrase: “A man who plants a tree, knowing he will never sit under its shade, has finally started to understand the purpose of life.” Humans lately are lost and trapped in the concept of “me, me, and me.” Our egos, in a vast majority of the human population, are out of proportion and focus, placing attention on things completely out of reality. As I mentioned in previous articles, we are losing our human identity. It is worrying because we have forgotten what really matters, and that whatever we have has been passed to us by previous generations, therefore origin and past matter. In many cases, we forget that we had a roof over our heads, that while being children, we needed somebody to pay the bills, to keep food on the table, to educate us, to pass values to us, to care for us, and to respond when we got sick or faced even more serious situations, including death. We have forgotten to be thankful for what God provides and how lucky we are when we had all we needed as children, provided by our loving parents, or that person who loved us enough to raise us.

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.”
— Proverbs 13:22.

“He plants trees to be of use to another age.”
— Caecilius Statius (quoted by Cicero)

“Intergenerational resource transfers and kin-directed altruism are fundamental evolutionary mechanisms that ensure the long-term survival and stability of human societies.”
— Dr. E.O. Wilson (Evolutionary Biologist)

On the other hand, regarding the negative part of the past, some of our families suffer due to alcoholism, drug addiction, violence, or criminal behavior in the adults that were supposed to raise us. And that is not to complain, it did hurt, but we can also learn from it, no matter how much it hurts, we must deal with reality just as it is. God gave us a spirit of love, power, and self-control; I lived through hardship, and I know that experience can teach us the clear difference between good and evil. If we do not get out of a precarious state of life, it is a lack of decision, because we know that hunger hurts, that bullets kill, that abuse destroys lives, and that violence does not resolve any problem.

We do not need to go to a university to understand that it is not a good idea to stab your own leg, nor does it feel good when somebody takes without permission something that belongs to us. Without academic knowledge, we know well what would hurt our dignity and life forever. So why don’t we understand? And an even more important question: If we can identify pain and know that we do not want it for ourselves, why would we inflict it on others? Why don’t we have the character to create filters that protect those we care for and ourselves? Why should we not have the character to stop any evil thing, in whatever shape or form, that will hurt us and everybody around us?…

The answer is simple: we are focused on pleasure- and comfort-driven activities and communities, making us blind, lazy, and useless to what has to be addressed in the world—which happens to be a responsibility belonging to all of us, with no exception. So when you see evil, call it by its name and stop it if you can; sometimes, taking that practical step to improve a difficult situation can make a difference for future generations. Let us not be deceived by people in suits and behind academic diplomas. It is our obligation to seek knowledge, wisdom, and discernment. When we suffer pain and detect a problem we need to solve, we need to put our minds, hearts, and hands to learn and to work on the solution. It is incredibly negligent when people say, “Pain makes wise people.” In some cases, yes! But the truth is that the world is suffering, geniuses are not appearing, and if pain simply made people wise, why don’t we learn? It is up to us; nobody will come to save us. Make yourself your own resource and backup. God did not make weak men or women, and He gave us the ability to discern, so we must choose to study, learn, and practice good disciplines to conquer our circumstances and separate us from that which is evil and degenerated and fight against evil when necessary.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7

“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.”
— Marcus Aurelius

“Trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens inside you; however, neuroplasticity dictates that the brain can actively rewire itself through disciplined behavioral changes to break generational cycles of abuse.”
— Dr. Gabor Maté (Physician and Author)

One word that has moved through time, generation after generation, is LEGACY. For that, we must focus on what is true and worth following. We all have a perspective and vision of how we want our lives to be, and it is clear any other living human being does as well, so negligence has no space in life, and yet, the ego and negligence in us do not let us do what we must. I invite every man and woman to analyze this: “To say I will die for you is certainly not the same as to say I will live for you, and take care of myself for you, and will adopt better disciplines for you and the ones I love.” Dying is easy; living responsibly requires true strength!

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
— Romans 12:1

“Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.”
— Seneca

“Routine, disciplined self-care and emotional regulation actively lower allostatic load, biologically enhancing a human’s capacity to protect, provide for, and endure alongside their offspring over a prolonged lifespan.”
— Dr. Bruce McEwen (Neuroendocrinologist)

In a world where each country’s population elects their leaders, and allow to become famous celebrities that promote degeneration, it is easy to see that people are deceived easily, that humans are blinded by “bread and circuses,” and that includes comfort and pleasure. We are unfortunately so blind that we do not know the difference between charisma and character, and we choose what looks good and not what is actually good with a real basis. Humans are blinded by new age beliefs, by social media, by the lyrics of degenerated songs written by degenerated musicians, shows and series on streaming channels, porn, influencer profiles, hookup culture, video games, and fashion. It is all so fake. Today in this world, a vast amount of the content in a social media profile is entirely fake, and even worse, many people—thousands, if not millions—follow profiles with a fake life. Many try so hard to compare their lives and push themselves to be like something that does not even exist, because it is a lie if we do not wakeup DEEP-FAKE will hit humanity so hard, we will not even be able to measure the damage!!!. This is one of the primary reasons why social media is separating people: because their profile is so fake, they cannot let others approach, or their crude reality will be discovered. It puts everybody in a terrible position. Pay attention to this very well: if you are going to compare yourself to somebody, compare yourself to Jesus Christ, and recognize there is only one validation we need—the one from God. That is why the phrase stands true: “A man who does not follow God, ends up following something weaker.”

“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
— 1 Samuel 16:7

“How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy.”
— Marcus Aurelius

“Parasocial relationships and the curation of idealized digital avatars trigger the brain’s social comparison mechanisms, resulting in acute psychological distress, social isolation, and the erosion of authentic interpersonal connection.”
— Dr. Jean Twenge (Psychologist)

My ultimate point in this article is to bring you back to the things that matter most, to a life of peace. A life of responsibility and discipline are the two things required for food to not lack in your home, for a good night’s rest, for your family to not suffer, for yourself to not be a slave to financial institutions, and to live according to your reach. We must renounce pretentious living and earn, with hard work and merit, whatever level of wealth we reach for ourselves and the ones we love. Seek only to be good, and stop the anxiety of being in constant competition and comparison with others. Live your lives just as they are. At birth, we are given conditions, social status, economy, and material things coming from our parents. If you were born into a challenging position, keep in mind this absolute truth: “It is not what we have, but how we use what we have that matters.” And if you ever need validation, read the Bible and get it directly from God.

“And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
— Epictetus

“Psychological homeostasis and deep sleep architecture are significantly preserved when individuals align their daily routines with realistic, internally validated goals rather than extrinsic, status-driven competition.”
— Dr. Matthew Walker (Neuroscientist)

Written by: Rhet Arevalo Marini