Personal Credos

Something to reflect on: it can seem odd how we don’t usually see fit to ask ourselves what we are doing on this earth, or why we are here. This website is partly about democratisation of thinking; we are all at the centre of our lives and can think out our own personal credo. We do not have to don the borrowed robes of the great thinkers who have gone before us.

There were Similarities and differences in the reactions of the cross-section canvassed with this question. Most took it mainly as relating to their personal lives, not that of the place of man in the scheme of the universe.

How assured people were in encapsulating their individual perspective!

No one liked to think they were a ‘waste of space’. Many (Suzi, Lena, Donna, Philip, John, Lucy) saw it as a prime purpose to help others, and to make a positive difference in this world. Each of us is on a unique mission or trajectory (Philip, Helen). Some interviewees had a pre-eminently practical approach (Dennis, Markus, Omar, Dave) citing balance, staying happy not working too hard, financial stability and the like but some (Nelson) wondered if we had our conceptions of what is truly important straight. Some took the course of their lives or careers, whether it was music or fencing, as providing them with answers (Stephen, Fred). Some felt that peace of mind was the ideal (Roy). Some had their life in a clear perspective, with everything in its appointed place (Theodore). Some thought that the fundamental answers were not going to be clear (Grace, Irene) and they might as well do successfully whatever lies in their power. Others (Lord Mereworth, Emmy) saw the question in religious or quasi-religious terms, seeing in this life only a staging post to the eternal. This could be put in terms of helpful metaphor (Jimmy). The soul (Helen), a source of Energy (Henry), or Nature (Adrian) figured high on the list to some. Those with a professional bent in this direction such as mediumship (Jacqueline) or Giving the Light (Tsuruko) accordingly coloured their response. The fact that one hadn’t the deepest answers (Irene, Anthony) was not a deterrent in trying to live one’s life for the best.

Sometimes beliefs were on the idiosyncratic side (Adrian, Helen). There were those who felt that their past was an essential ingredient in their present (Henry) or those who had melodramatic pasts (Kwabena) spent time reflecting on why their lives had taken the course that they had.

Some people, usually English, (Lord Barnado, Rosslyn, Chris, Crystal, Jan) felt this isn’t the sort of question that merited going into detail and Health was first priority (Jan).

Some (Claude) referred to what major philosophers thought; others (Maurice) struggled hard with the question, and his ‘arrival’ at a conclusion, perhaps banal, seems secondary by comparison with his struggle with the ‘journey’ to it.

People do talk in public about what is important to them but it is sufficiently rare as to merit being posted on Instagram when they have something of value or interest to say. Here is the personal credo of ‘Tony’ on instagram.