Day 200 Y25 Thought of the Day__Authentic Life

Happiness is when what you think you say and what you do are in harmony.

Mahatma Gandhi

In this quote, Gandhi implies that happiness is achieved by living a life of authenticity and integrity. But what does that mean?

I’d say it is living your life in an intentional way. You view success by your standards, aligned with your values and beliefs.

It is being proud of the life you’ve built, and the choices you’ve made. Not needing external validation, and being internally grounded.

I reflected upon my choices at various turning points in my life and asked myself whether I considered what truly mattered and the well-being of my loved ones.

I would like to believe that I did well on that front. It is because I have always let my faith guide me throughout my life journey.

I spent a good portion of my adult life trying to do what’s best for my family and doing right by them. Some choices brought struggles and hardships into my life. Yet, I made them based on what was right and what would lead me closer to a more meaningful life.

When I decided to move to Canada with my son, it was a balance between leaving my old life behind and starting over in unfamiliar terrain.

The lifestyle of an immigrant living and working abroad often changes as we adapt to our new environment. Some cultural differences may conflict with our values and beliefs. While I may not fully agree with all of these differences, I respect them without compromising my own. I constantly remind my son to do the same.

The hurdles that an immigrant faces vary for each person. The path that led to the success of one may not be the same for another. Frustrations arise when comparing one’s circumstances against the proverbial neighbor. It is easy to feel disheartened when things are not progressing at the pace that you prefer.

Living with integrity means staying grounded and humble, no matter your circumstances. It’s about being grateful for how far you’ve come, remaining true to yourself and others, and finding peace in the knowledge that we will all reach the end of our journey, whatever that may be.