By: Muhammad Asif Saddique
This evening feels like a gentle knock on the door of winter. A cool breeze drifts through the air as I sit by the window of my office, watching the season slowly change. My thoughts wanderto the shifting weather, the passage of time, and the subtle transformations in people, their behavior, their ways of living, and the society around us.
My heart yearns to speak, to pour the words of my thoughts onto the waiting heart of the page. So, I took up my pen to reflect on the social behavior and intricate nexus that shape how people like or dislike one another—how they interact, sometimes unintentionally, and sometimes with deliberate intent. Our daily actions and behaviors collectively shape the evolution of society. It is thought-provoking to ponder why people often struggle to tolerate others, and why they clash over matters that should not affect their lives or livelihoods.
Why are we forgetting the essence of human comfort and ease? Why have we neglected the lessons of our holy faith, which teaches the giving and receiving of ease and compassion? Why has simplicity vanished from our society—and from our minds? I do not write this as satire, but as a bitter and painful truth. In my view, our society is racing at breakneck speed toward the erosion of its values and traditions.It charges ahead like blazing saddles, leading society toward an erosion of empathy.
People spend a large portion of their lives among others, yet we often fail to align with their ways of thinking or grasp the impact of the journey they share with us. Minor conflicts can sometimes become impossibly hard to resolve. Over time, we come to realize that some relationships are like ocean waves—moving together only until they reach the shore. Their meeting with the shore reveals hidden depths, unraveling the mysteries and secrets that once lay beneath. Such moments change the way we think and lead us to analyze people differently, offering insight into how sociality itself continues to evolve.
No society can be brought together, no society held together — whether by sticks or carrot-sweeteners. Behavioral rigidity often hinders the untangling of conflicts and alters one’s perspective on personality and relationships. If people learn to absorb the thoughts and behavioral nuances of others—to listen more, to respect others as they wish to be respected themselves—they can avoid the endless wars of argument. Our lines of thinking may differ, yet our lines of action can align if we truly understand and honor one another’s existence.
As contemplation deepens, it becomes evident that societal harmony depends on accepting diversity with grace rather than on homogeneous thinking. Every individual has an inner world that has been molded by their hardships, experiences, and unspoken tales. Ignoring this inner life results in imperceptible barriers that erode ties within the community. Empathic discourse, not opinion dominance, is the path to true social harmony. Allowing another person’s truth to momentarily inhabit us is a necessary component of true listening, which goes beyond simply hearing what they have to say. This mutual comprehension enhances human interactions by converting surface-level coexistence into a true connection.
The strength of any society rests not in its wealth or power, but in its moral tenderness—in its people’s ability to pause, reflect, and act with conscience. The erosion of empathy begins the moment we value success over sincerity and appearances over authenticity. Perhaps, the revival of compassion lies in returning to simplicity—where kindness is not a grand gesture but a natural reflex, where respect is not demanded but freely given. If we can rediscover the art of living with gentleness—toward ourselves and others—our social bonds may once again find their lost rhythm, and the coldness of modern indifference may slowly melt away into the warmth of shared humanity.
It should serve as food for thought that there must exist a modus operandi that fosters and sustains a modus vivendi respectfully. We should think seriously about finding a practical approach that promotes and upholds a respectful way of coexistence.
