Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way
By Mungi Ngomane (2019)
In the preface to this book authored by his granddaughter, the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu defines the key principles of human connectedness: “I am only because you are.” Ubuntu is a South African philosophy about how to live life well, together. In 1994, under Nelson Mandela, Bishop Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which applied it effectively to heal the wounds of racial violence. This method helped to reunite and heal the wounds of Rwandan society after the massacres of 1994. Here are the principles:
- See yourself in other people: more than mere kindness, it recognizes the inner worth of each.
- Strength lies in unity, not in social status or economic conditions.
- Put yourself in the shoes of the other to see divergent viewpoints to explore the bigger picture.
- See the wider perspective, rejecting the “my way or the highway” attitude.
- Dignity and respect for yourself. Do at least two feel good things each day.
- Believe in the good of everyone. If you look for the good in someone you will find it.
- Hope over optimism. A necessary, wonderful gift for oneself and others. In hopeless times recognize when it’s happening, take time to refocus, explore avenues of faith in everyday life.
- Seek out ways to connect. Connectedness brings happiness.
- The power of Forgiveness. Forgiving is letting go and relieving the burden on ourselves and other people applicable to individuals, family race and nations.
- Embrace our diversity. Human beings have one thing in common—differences. It can propel us forward or hold us back. Diversity has helped build civilization. Draw on the strengths of our differences and leave the judgment behind.
- Acknowledge reality. This will help us change tomorrow for the better.
- Find humour in our humanity. Humour is the best way we experience Ubuntu.
- Little things make a big difference. The smallest of actions have consequences
- Learn to listen. Good communication depends on patient listening- the basis of strong connections, mutual appreciation and growth.
Goodbye, Things – The New Japanese Minimalism
By Fumio Sasaki (2017)
In this book that recently became an international bestseller, Fumio Sasaki writes from his personal experience of having much and then choosing to give up those very things that he realized had only made him unhappy. This meant giving up a life-style that provided only stress, greed and possessiveness. Sasaki’s philosophy of modern minimalism involves a decision to say goodbye to everything that one does not absolutely need in life. Sasaki confesses that it gave him real freedom, a new perspective and a real sense of gratitude for everything around him. The benefits of minimalism can be gained by anyone in any walk of life. Saying goodbye to all our extra things, including the information overload (how much of our social media info give us anything worthwhile?) in our brains will help us focus on things that are truly important in life. Things that we often think as necessary are often not so. Reducing these is vital to enduring happiness. We all started in life as minimalists and our worth is not the sum of our possessions. We develop the habit of equating possessions with value and self-worth. Most people are concerned with making others believe that they are happy rather than be really happy!
Here we need to distinguish between wants and needs. When you discard something, you gain more than you lose. We can begin disburdening ourselves of things that are clearly junk and step by step get used to discarding things and thus make it a habit. We can get rid of things that you haven’t used in a year, and if something is kept for the sake of appearance, discard it. You will enjoy a deep sense of contentment. You get more energy to focus on what really brings happiness: connections, relationships and experiences. Life becomes stress-free, emotional health improves, which improves the physical health too. It helps clarity of mind, increases productivity. Our houses become less cluttered and cleaner and harmonized. Sasaki’s thoughts are truly an antidote to the trap of contemporary consumerist culture and a practical way of living a life of poverty.
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