By: Rukhosh Khudida Joqi
Cihan University-Duhok, General Education Department
Harmony Between You and Your Environment
To truly live in harmony with your environment, you must first learn to love life as it is—imperfect, evolving, yet full of quiet beauty. Embrace society and the world not as abstract ideals, but as they are in their present form. In doing so, life will appear gentler, warmer, and more meaningful.
Avoid falling into the habit of constant rebellion or harsh criticism of others, no matter how flawed they may seem. Instead of focusing solely on the shortcomings of individuals or systems, look at humanity as a continuous journey. Compare each generation not with perfection, but with the generation before it, and you will begin to understand that progress—slow and often invisible—is driven by the efforts of a few determined individuals.
You may not be able to change the entire world or reshape society in your image, even if your intention is noble. But what you can do is contribute in your own way—through kindness, perseverance, and action—to the greater development of humanity.
Remind yourself that if the last hundred years brought meaningful advances to our planet, then the next thousand years, though still far from perfection, will continue this arc of progress. This belief will help you see life not as a burden, but as something increasingly refined and worthy of your effort and care.
With this mindset, your bond with life deepens. You will work with greater passion, guided by the confidence that you can improve your circumstances—not by resisting existence, but by adapting yourself to it. And in doing so, you will see that existence, with all its complexity, has its own quiet goodness.
Among God’s greatest blessings to humanity is the remarkable ability to adapt—to find our place in the vast ocean of existence. But this adaptability has two sides:
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The darker side appears when we adapt too easily to unhealthy, unjust, or damaging environments. We begin to normalize dysfunction, accept stagnation, and convince ourselves that this is simply how life is meant to be.
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The brighter side, however, is when we adapt mindfully. In becoming aware of our surroundings, we start to search for ways to rise above them. We sense the exit in the darkness. We begin to feel where the door might be—the one that leads us to light, to renewal, to the beauty and life we’ve been yearning for.
If you find yourself in an environment that is not suitable for your growth—one that dims your light or silences your voice—it is okay to first surrender and accept your situation. This acceptance is not weakness; it is the first stage of transformation. From there, begin feeling your way forward. Trust that, God willing, you will find your way out.
