CONSUMPTION left unchecked would only lead to waste and a mismanagement of resources.

Try living without a fridge for a year and you will learn to conserve and curb your excessive desires.

The pandemic has tested weak fundamentals when it comes to living beyond your means. Otherwise why would a loan repayment moratorium be a hot subject?

I might appear naïve to some for not understanding the concept of investment for a better future, but have we truly questioned our baseline needs?

Our commitment keeps us responsible to make informed decisions and we need to be accountable for every risk assumed.

Vanity can be destructive when living in a society that measures your worth by what you have instead of what you need to be happy.

The values and principles of a stoic may not be appealing but it truly helps in making optimal decisions for preservation of self.

Politicians and civil servants are expected to live a more moderate lifestyle in society that is measurable to a nation’s income per capita because, after all, the rakyat are contributing to their salary. Is it not fair to expect them to go through the thick and thin of economic successes and setbacks suffered by the nation?

I can imagine it would have been unreasonable for an underperforming company be giving out extravagant bonuses to executives whilst completely ignoring the employees when they are in the red for the financial year.

We have been tested and will continue to face this tough challenge overcoming the pandemic aftermath by staying resilient and understanding how some corrupted beliefs can prove fatal if left on their own.

To be part of society means giving up certain individual liberties to protect the community. Be it vaccines, moratoriums and overconsumption to satiate the hunger of greed.

A man’s physical constitution is determined by cultivating good habits and if it is not too much to ask, Malaysians only want good governance by those in the echelons of power.

I have learnt to balance fasting and consuming moderately to survive throughout the year living without a fridge and I will continue to do so until I find myself strong enough to resist temptation. – January 19, 2022.

* A Stoic at Heart reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.