Essay Sample on Values: Key to Success in Life & Hard Work: A Must

Introduction

Values can be defined as the regard that something is thought to have. At the same time, it can be said to be one's judgment on the importance of life. The value that one has for life is the motivation behind the hard work. There is a belief that individuals who do not work will have difficulties in life. Hard work is therefore seen as one of the values of life. With time, I have learned how to value everything that I do. At some point, I was a tutor at a certain school in my neighborhood. Unfortunately, I did not have the motivation to do whatever I was doing until a time when a group of students approached me asking what they could do to be like me. From that particular occasion, I learned to appreciate every moment in life. In life, you cannot get it all, but you have to appreciate and value the little that is available.

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Sometime in the 1970s, Robin Williams Jr. an American sociologist came up with what he described as central values guiding the Americans. They were specifically ten in number. Among the ten values include equal opportunities, freedom, democracy, activity and work, science and rational thinking, practicality and efficiency, progress, group superiority as well as material comfort (Lamb, 2019). Of all these values, two appear to have undergone the most changes as far as Americans are concerned. They are progress and material. They have not changed in the sense of being eliminated, but instead, Americans have taken them to a higher level.

Material comfort was meant to show how Americans enjoyed being comfortable, safe and secure. Unfortunately, the value has been turned into a selfish act. People no longer care of other peoples welfare unlike the past, Americans are now interested in gaining wealth for their selfish gains. That explains why there are increased cases of corruption as well as mismanagement of public resources. People are using the resources to benefit themselves misusing the said value. Vacations and leisure are part of the material comfort and thus the rot. At the same time, there has come the issue of guns in the US which is part of material comfort and safety. The guns have brought about some controversy owing to the numerous killings. At the same time, there is the value of progress. By nature, Americans love progress. The hunger and desire for progress have eroded much of the US culture since every generation has its views and way of doing things. At the same time, the progress has been taken a notch hire especially in matters of technology. Just recently, a 787-max jet crashed in Ethiopia, and preliminary findings state that the complex systems are to blame. This is an example to show how America's greed for progress is affecting society, unlike the initially expected progress.

Conclusion

The central values created by Robin are of importance to the American community up to today. The values have helped society to move in several ways. First, the value equality has helped to come up with a society where both men and women have their say. The same equality and freedom have enabled the controversial sexuality debate where one is free to do as per their desire. Science and rational thinking is the backbone of research. Rational and liberal minds help to air the views of the marginalized in society (Rokeach, 2008). At the same time, progress would never be possible without science and activity. Work and activity mend the American economy. Democracy is what has enabled America to be what is today else it would be more or less of Syria. Up until this end, it is therefore justified to say that the above-named values are of importance to today's society.

References

Lamb, Z. (2019). Values and Beliefs. Retrieved from https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/values-and-beliefs--5

Rokeach, M. (2008). Understanding human values. Simon and Schuster.