On ‘choosing your own battles’
Life is a constant struggle.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned with age, it’s the fact that we always have the option of choosing how to react to certain actions and situations. This is more important than we think because our state of happiness or unhappiness depends on it. Call it a matter of principle or common sense but I do believe that not all battles are worth fighting for . We choose only the battle(s) worth our effort and we stick with it.
I am saying this because our existence is too short for waging all sorts of battles and it’s a pity how we see it unfold everyday just because of some preconceived notion or prejudiced mindset. Should we really risk destroying that friendship or relationship by uttering that remark or doing that deed, or are we better off withholding it for a moment.. who knows we might have a different feeling or opinion afterwards?
Some of the guidelines in choosing my battles:
Life is crappy but there’s always room for compromise. One thing I’ve learned with politics or the workplace in the Philippine setting is that the system always wins. The ones who curry the most favor are the ones who are Trying Hard in sidling up to the bosses and saying yes to everything. But there’s nothing to prevent you from making a difference and doing your good work silently. Better yet, channel your positive energies elsewhere, there will always be venues deserving of your time and effort.
Think before you act. This is so Rotary Club and it must be the Rotarian in me but I always ask myself first: “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned?” Am I going into battle with all my strategies plotted, properly armed and enlightened?
Fight the good fight, or don’t fight at all. Treachery and deception can only get you elsewhere; somehow, there will always be something or someone to blow your cover. For this, I am reminded of these lines from The Art of War: “to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
No purpose for this post really. Maybe it’s because am re-reading Sun-Tzu or am suffering from some sort of Bourne Ultimatum hang-over. 
Blogging since 2004 and recently married to Mr Z. I can't live without coffee....and brown sugar.
i totally agree with you. and i never really gave a thought to it that these virtues are learned thru experience. You can’t please everybody, don’t sweat the small stuff, and Some things are better left unsaid.
Hi Ajay!
akala ko this was about the ongoing blog war campaign against MALU FERNANDEZ. hehehe!