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The Shadows We Feed

Listen up, because we're diving deep
Into the mind where corruption sleeps
It's not just out there, it's in here too
In the choices we make, in what we do

Power whispers, "Just a little more"
Greed opens up an endless door
The human mind, a battlefield of desire
Where ethics and temptation build a pyre

We're all susceptible, don't you see?
To the siren call of "What's in it for me?"
It starts so small, just a tiny seed
A favour here, a blind eye there, the shadows we feed

Cognitive dissonance plays its part
Justifying wrongs, it's a perverse art
"Everyone does it," we tell ourselves
As integrity gets dusty on the shelves

Fear of missing out, of falling behind
It drives us to leave our morals behind
The slippery slope, it's steep and it's quick
Before you know it, you're in too thick

Maslow's hierarchy was thrown out of whack
When survival mode puts ethics under attack
Fight or flight becomes cheat or bribe
As desperation changes our vibe

But wait! There's more to this corrupt equation
Social norms, culture, expectations
When the system's rigged when cheaters win
The honest feel like they're wearing thin

The bystander effect, we all play a role
Watching corruption take its toll
Silence is complicity, don't you know?
Every time we look away, we let it grow

So what's the cure for this human flaw?
This tendency to break every law?
It starts with awareness, by looking inside
At the choices we make, the truths we hide

We must feed the light, starve the shadow
Build a culture where ethics can grow
It's not easy, it's not quick, but it's right
To face our demons, to win this fight

'Cause corruption's not just "them," it's "us"
It's in our nature, but so is trust
We have the power to choose our path
To build integrity that will last

So look in the mirror, face what you see
The power to change starts with you and me
Corruption's roots run deep, it's true
But so does our potential to start anew!

It's time to rise, to break the chain
To wash away corruption's stain
The human mind can be our greatest tool
In building a world where justice rules!

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Book: Reflection on the Important Things