Live up to Your Ideals

Live up to Your Ideals

by Swami Sivananda

You should have your own ideal in life and should try hard to accomplish the ideal. People vary in their capacities, mental and intellectual calibre, and in physical and mental strength to do things. Therefore, different people should have different ideals. Then only they can evolve quickly. Then alone they will realise sure and rapid progress. The ideal of one man will not suit another man. If one keeps an ideal that he cannot realise, an ideal that is beyond his reach and capacity, he will get disappointment. He will give up his effort and become Tamasic.

You should have your own ideal. You may realise the ideal this moment or after ten years with faltering steps. It does not matter much how long it takes. Every man should endeavour his level best to live up to his ideal. He should put his whole energy, nerve-force and will in the realisation of his ideal. You can chalk out your own ideal according to your own standard. If you are unable to do this, have your guide to do so, and he will select for you the ideal that is suitable to your capacity and standard.

One man may say: “I will teach the village boys and will give them free education. This is my ideal in life.” Another may say: “I will serve sick people and nurse them carefully. I will join any Seva institution and render free service till the end of my life. Service of the sick is my ideal.” A third man may say: “I will beg from door to door and start a Kshettar for feeding Sadhus and Sannyasins. This is my ideal.” A fourth man may say: “My ideal is Self-realisation. I will go to Gangotri and live in a cave and do intense meditation. This is my ideal.” All are quite correct according to their capacity and standard. You must gradually bring the ideal to the realisation of God or Brahman. The highest ideal is Self-realisation. Service, worship, etc., eventually result in the realisation of the inner Self. The ideal to have ethical perfection is just below the ideal of Self-realisation. But this will lead to Self-realisation. Self-realisation is the greatest ideal in life. It is the most difficult of all ideals to fulfil. One who attempts Self-realisation does the best service to mankind.

One should not treat a man who has a low ideal, with contempt. He may be a baby-soul who is just crawling on the moral and spiritual path. Your duty is to help him in all possible ways in the realisation or accomplishment of his ideal. You should give him all sorts of encouragement in his sincere endeavour to live up to his own highest ideal.

It is deplorable to note that the vast majority of persons have no ideal at all. Even educated persons do not cherish any ideal. They lead an aimless life and therefore drift hither and thither like a piece of straw. They make no progress in life. Is this not a very sad plight? Highly lamentable indeed! It is very difficult to get a human birth and yet people do not realise the importance of keeping up an ideal and living up to it. The ideal of ‘eat, drink and be merry’ is adopted by the Epicureans, the gluttons and rich people. This school of thought has countless followers and the number is increasing by leaps and bounds daily. This is the ideal of Virochana. This is the ideal of Asuras and Rakshasas. This ideal will lead a man to the darkest regions of misery and sorrow, the ‘eternal lake of fire’. Blessed is the man who keeps up an ideal and struggles hard to live up to his own ideal, for he will soon attain God-consciousness. Glory unto sincere struggling souls!

Live up to Your Ideals – Character, Discipline, and Higher Living

Live up to Your Ideals is a powerful reminder that life should not be guided only by comfort, fear, habit, or social pressure. Every person carries some idea of goodness within the heart. It may be truthfulness, kindness, courage, purity, service, discipline, or spiritual growth. These ideals show us what kind of person we want to become. But having ideals is not enough. The real challenge is to bring them into daily conduct.

Many people admire noble values, but they fail to practice them when life becomes difficult. It is easy to speak about honesty, but harder to remain honest when dishonesty gives quick benefit. It is easy to praise patience, but harder to remain calm when someone insults us. It is easy to respect simplicity, but harder to avoid show and comparison. This gap between belief and behavior is where real growth begins.

Live up to Your Ideals means making your actions match your highest understanding. If you believe in truth, speak truth even when it is uncomfortable. If you value compassion, help others when they need support. If you respect discipline, follow your duties even when the mind feels lazy. Ideals become meaningful only when they shape choices, habits, speech, and relationships.

An ideal is like a light that shows direction. Without it, life becomes driven by desire and accident. A person may chase pleasure, praise, money, power, or comfort without asking whether these things are making them better. Ideals protect us from falling into a careless life. They remind us that human life has a higher purpose than merely eating, earning, sleeping, and competing.

Live up to Your Ideals also requires self-examination. A person should honestly ask, “Am I living according to what I believe?” This question may feel uncomfortable, but it is necessary. Many weaknesses hide behind excuses. We may say we are too busy, too tired, too hurt, or too helpless. But sincere reflection shows where improvement is possible. Even small correction is valuable when it is done with honesty.

Discipline is the bridge between ideals and reality. Without discipline, ideals remain only beautiful thoughts. A student who values knowledge must study regularly. A seeker who values peace must practice meditation and self-control. A person who values health must choose proper food, rest, and exercise. A person who values kindness must control harsh words. Discipline turns inner values into outer strength.

There will always be obstacles. The mind may resist change. Old habits may pull strongly. Other people may misunderstand or criticize. Sometimes failure may come even after sincere effort. But one should not give up. Falling once does not mean the ideal is false. It means more patience, practice, and awareness are needed. Progress is built through repeated effort.

Live up to Your Ideals does not mean pretending to be perfect. It means being sincere in the journey of improvement. A person should accept mistakes without losing hope. Guilt should not become weakness, and pride should not block correction. True growth needs humility. When we fail, we should learn. When we succeed, we should remain grateful and steady.

Good company helps a lot in this path. If we stay with people who mock discipline, truth, purity, and service, our own ideals may become weak. But if we stay with people who inspire courage, honesty, simplicity, and wisdom, our inner strength grows. Books, teachers, friends, and surroundings all influence the mind. Therefore, one should choose influences carefully.

Live up to Your Ideals also means refusing to live only for public approval. Sometimes society praises the wrong things and ignores the right things. A person may be respected for wealth but not for character. They may be admired for appearance but not for sincerity. If we depend too much on public opinion, we may lose our inner direction. Ideals should be guided by conscience, not by popularity.

The role of conscience is very important. Conscience tells us when we are moving away from truth. It may speak quietly, but it carries deep power. When we ignore it repeatedly, the mind becomes dull. When we obey it, inner strength increases. A person who listens to conscience becomes more peaceful, because they are not secretly fighting against themselves.

Spiritual life also depends on living up to ideals. Prayer, meditation, worship, and study become powerful only when they improve conduct. If a person speaks of spirituality but remains selfish, proud, angry, or dishonest, their practice is incomplete. Real spirituality should be visible in humility, self-control, compassion, forgiveness, and service.

Live up to Your Ideals is finally a call to live with dignity and purpose. Do not keep your highest values locked inside words, dreams, or good intentions. Bring them into your morning routine, your work, your speech, your relationships, and your private thoughts. When ideals become action, character becomes strong. When character becomes strong, life becomes meaningful, peaceful, and noble.

A Project of Education