Striving towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

I've been contemplating Tolstoy's insight about imaginary versus true property. It's made me reconsider what actually belongs to me in the deepest sense.

When I think about it, "property" originally means "belonging to the self." That puts an interesting spin on how I view my possessions. My house, car, money, and other material things - I certainly enjoy using them, but they're separate from who I am. They're just things, not actual extensions of my self.

So what do I truly own? I've come to believe it's my moral and spiritual qualities - my capacity to love, my commitment to honesty, my integrity. These characteristics actually define who I am. The difference between telling the truth or lying is far more significant to my identity than whether I drive a luxury car or a basic bicycle. When I really grasp this distinction, I can begin developing what matters most - my spiritual self.

Deep down, I know that accumulating things can't bring lasting happiness; only a loving heart and clear conscience can do that. Yet I still find myself acting as though material acquisitions were inherently important. Sometimes I need to step back and remind myself to restore balance - to put material possessions back in their proper perspective.

What gives me comfort is recognizing that my true property is what can never be taken from me - my character, my values, my capacity for goodness. These are the possessions worth cultivating.