Another year has passed and with it come the opportunity of starting our new year’s resolutions and working towards fresh goals. I love the idea of starting a new; be it a new month or even phase of our life. It portrays something that is often missing in our daily news or even in our daily conversations, Hope.
While we cannot ignore the conditions of a troubled world, be it economic turmoil, geopolitical tensions, wars and famine. These challenges have been with us in varying degrees for as long as history has been recorded. We see them unfolding, but often it feels like nothing improves at least to the naked eye, sometimes giving the sense that there is no point continuing with the charade of everything being fine.
But with the new year while new troubles may arise, new opportunities also extend their hands to us.
I find it fitting that after the month of Christmas, the season of Love, Hope and Peace we enter the new year. It’s a reminder for us to carry those values into the new year. Christmas shows us that love means sacrifice, that hope can be found even in a humble manger and that peace is something we can all strive towards in interactions with the world around us.
It’s not always easy. Personally, when I am slighted, my instinct is to defend myself, but I’ve learnt that taking a moment to pause before reaction helps a ton in clearing the mind. Small steps like this are part of why I enjoy entering the new year, even if we enter with simple resolutions like spending less time (5 mins or even 1 hour) on the mobile. Even that small change is progress.
Often, when we look toward moving forward, we want progress to come quickly and results to appear instantly. But taking intentional steps in the present makes looking back at the path we’ve created all the more rewarding.
Imagine walking on a sandy beach in haste, then walking on it with intention, taking in the ocean and life around you. Which set of footprints would be more striking?
In The Screwtape Letters, a witty book by C.S Lewis that features two demons, Wormwood and Screwtape, exchanging letters on the best way to corrupt a soul, there is a salient quote from Screwtape. ‘For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.’
Many times, I forget the blessing that is the present day in search for something I may not find tomorrow or something that I may not need in search of my own greed and ambition.
If there’s one thing to take away from this post, it’s this:
Before the sun reaches its peak in the sky, it passes through the beauty of the sunrise, where not on the sun itself but everything the light touches, is admired. In the same way, living intentionally in each present moment can help us see both the world and ourselves more clearly.
In today’s world, there are many discussions on rehabilitating people when they are radicalised or commit crimes. It led me to a question on what are the steps that one usually has to go through before rehabilitation is possible. I landed at two words, ‘Correction’ and ‘Conviction’.
Before we get started let’s explore what each of these words mean:
Corrections: Change that rectifies an error or inaccuracy or the action or process of correcting something.
Conviction: A formal declaration by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law that someone is guilty of a criminal offence or a firmly held belief or opinion.
From the simplified definitions (thank you Google!) we can perceive the difference between the words. Correction is more of an external manifestation on making amends to ensure better performance or in some cases acceptable behaviour.
Correction is important in helping us learn, grow and improve across our personal and professional lives. In a way, when one accepts correction, it may lead to increase self-worth and confidence, because it’s a reminder that no one is perfect.
Conviction on the other hand, is more intrinsic. It provides internal strength to pursue our goals, overcome obstacles and maintain congruence in thought and action. Leading to greater personal growth and even building resilience. Strong convictions help to inspire trust in others, strengthen decision making and foster a sense of purpose and passion. It makes setbacks and obstacles no matter how daunting seem small when one is convicted in their belief or action.
When I was writing this I realised that one is clearly more powerful than the other. If you are corrected or chastised, you may not always be convicted of your actions or behaviour. But if you are convicted on something, it comes hand in hand with being chastised or corrected which then shapes how you continue to journey through life.
So where does this difference show up most clearly? I’ve noticed it in two very different groups: children and criminals. Both are often corrected, but the presence—or absence—of conviction makes all the difference.
Children and Criminals: What is the difference?
I know the header seems abit jarring but bear with me.
Many of my close friends and family work with children. I always found it curious when I would see them correcting a child, it usually goes with (a) Shout or yelling to get their attention, (b) being pulled aside, (c) telling the child what they did was wrong and sometimes if you are lucky (d) Why it was wrong. Many times, as adults we stop at telling children ‘what’ but rarely go beyond to ‘why’.
Maybe its because we assume that a young child would not understand the why, so we don’t bother telling them that till they’re older.
But when will a child be old enough?
The question I have lies more with the adults, why do we stop and not explain to children why their behaviour is bad, disruptive, rude (any of the above). While yes, I do think we should pick our battles, for a young child even putting out the ‘why’ makes a difference because it’s planting seeds into their minds and can make changes to their behaviour.
Many times, as adults we get upset when we receive an apology that does not put into words ‘why’ we are receiving it.
Case in point, pick which one you prefer:
‘I’m sorry for saying that, please forgive me’
vs
‘I’m sorry for calling you that. It was hurtful and childish thing to do. I was being rude and inconsiderate for even using that term, I will do better, please forgive me’.
The difference in an apology is the understanding of why. It is not simply the word ‘sorry’ that makes the difference.
If as adults many of us struggle with accepting such apologies or lack of reasoning, why are we leaving children unequipped.
Now for criminals we have the opposite problem.
Many times, they are aware of social norms and rules on criminal activities. In a courtroom their crimes are detailed and explained to the jury or the judge and it is always presented with a motive (the why) in the courtroom.
Playing devil advocate to myself, if the ‘why’ is needed—this is the perfect scenario— why are there repeat offenders occur. Its confusing especially when the consequences have been outlined and experienced.
I like to think that despite the judge or jury passing a conviction, internally the person isn’t convicted. Ever heard the saying ‘you can bring the horse to water, but you can’t make it drink’. Well, this is the same.
The beauty of conviction is that it is a double-edged sword. It is more effective than correction only when it is from within. Which means if I choose to justify my behaviour due to other external factors rather than accept that I had to power to choose my decision despite the circumstance, I will never be convicted.
I can be corrected by people, I can explain and justify my actions, but I won’t be able to see the hurt or pain it caused, and neither will I be willing to accept that I became a perpetrator unless I am convicted.
How do we continue evolving
I know it’s an uncomfortable conversation to slowly peel yourself open to the possibility that there are a lot of things in life that makes you a cog in the machine and the same way the cog does not understand why you just go through the motions.
But maybe the question isn’t which is more powerful, but how we can move from correction to conviction in our own lives. The next time we are corrected—whether as children, adults, or even in the quiet courtroom of our conscience—what if we paused long enough to ask: Do I just understand what I did wrong, or am I convicted enough to live differently?
The answer may determine whether the lesson ends there.
As the year comes to an end, I wanted to discuss something I realised has become a symbiotic relationship the more interconnected we have become as a society. It is the relationship between individual freedom and social responsibility.
Freedom vs. Responsibility
This raises a big question: when does social responsibility encroach on individual freedom and should it?
Individual freedom is the right to make choices without undue restraint, as long as others’ freedoms are respected. Social responsibility, on the other hand, is the ethical duty to act for the greater good — whether that’s businesses providing recycling bins, or individuals choosing to recycle.
In a society where responsibility is shared, collaboration feels natural. But when it’s unevenly applied — like individuals being fined for littering but companies dumping trash into rivers— it can feel more like coercion than collaboration.
Can we call society “fair” if responsibility is imposed on a few while others remain exempt?
Let’s look at it from 2 different perspectives Libertarian and Utilitarian
The Libertarian Perspective: Freedom First
From a libertarian viewpoint, individual freedom is the ultimate value. Libertarians argue that the right to personal liberty should take precedence over societal demands for collective behavior. After all, freedom means having the ability to make personal choices—whether those choices are popular or not.
In this view, social responsibility cannot justify infringing on personal freedoms. Even when public opinion pushes for conformity—be it the latest social trend, political correctness, or collective activism—libertarians would argue that individuals should have the right to opt out without facing judgment or consequence.
The Utilitarian Perspective: The Greater Good
On the other hand, utilitarianism puts the common good at the center. According to this philosophy, actions should be evaluated based on their consequences for society as a whole. In this view, individual freedoms might need to be curtailed if it’s for the benefit of the larger community.
For example, in the context of environmental responsibility, the utilitarian argument might support limiting personal freedoms (like car ownership or meat consumption) if these sacrifices can help reduce climate change and promote long-term societal well-being.
(Which is ironic when you realise that larger corporations curbing their carbon emissions would be more effective than a single person recycling…I still do recycle but you have to admit it is funny)
The Clash in Modern Society
Today, this tension is more visible than ever. Social media amplifies the need for individual freedom and also social responsibility, where likes and shares often validate ideas and lifestyles.
Protests, for instance, while they are a critical part of social change, they can also lead to unintended consequences. When protesters block roads, destroy property, or disrupt people’s livelihoods, the people most affected are often the ones who may already be struggling to make ends meet—like delivery drivers, small business owners, or workers trying to earn a living.
Recently in Melbourne, rocks were hurled at police officers who were doing their jobs in trying to maintain peace and order for citizens going about their day and also respecting individuals rights to protest and counter protest one another.
The irony is that the actions of these protestors might turn more people away from their message than towards it. As we know the road to hell is paved with good intention. It ends up creating a situation where the solution to one problem ends up exacerbating the suffering of others who are just trying to survive, which can feel like an unfair trade-off
Why should my personal liberties be curtailed due to your ‘view’ on what social responsibility should look like?
This is where the clash occurs: how do we balance the desire to foster a sense of social responsibility while still respecting personal freedoms?
Finding a Middle Ground
Ultimately, the goal should be to find a balance—encouraging people to make responsible, ethical choices. But also respecting people who are doing their jobs and trying to make the best out of the hand they’ve been dealt. As humans we are complicated which results in us making processes equally complicated —somehow I doubt we will ever find the perfect solution.
But to come close to one, people should be empowered to make decisions for the common good, but not at the expense of their right to think, speak, and live freely.
Food for Thought
In an age where societal pressures often dictate how we live and what we believe, it’s important to acknowledge the fine line between social responsibility and individual freedom. While we all have a role to play in creating a better society, we must also protect the freedoms that allow us to live authentically, express diverse opinions, challenge norms.
Because only when freedom and responsibility walk hand in hand, will we thrive.
ArrowsInk 