Cycle of Refinement

Philosophy

21 January 2026

One has to suffer the consequences of the past in order to realise what has been lost and what can be achieved in the future. However, we cannot always dwell in the past, nor can we always anticipate the future; all we can do is simply exist in the present moment.

In my personal introspective journey, I have come to some profound realisations, the most important of which is that the world we live in — that is, our surrounding environment and the greater societal structure — is not already created, but is instead in a constant state of creation. It is a cycle of refinement whose creative direction is set by individuals who consciously choose to participate in the creative process. By doing so, such individuals not only transform their own lives but also influence the lives of others. They become catalysts for change in their chosen fields, and the change that they bring about depends on the proclivities of their personal lives.

Oftentimes, when we lose someone close to us, it puts our lives into an evaluative perspective that makes us question everything about our own existence — namely, our habits, behaviours, and desires. It is a bittersweet perspective that makes us ponder the very direction in which our lives are headed, and whether we consciously intended to end up there or not. Such introspection is a potentially positive opportunity to reassess our lives, make amends, and progress accordingly.

Ideally, we should always have this perspective so that we can reflect on it often, since we are constantly losing our past selves and transforming into someone new, whether we realise it or not. Novelty is embedded in the fabric of time; realising this enables us to proactively participate in our creative process and design our ideal lives while living them at the same time.