人生除了成功富庶，更重要是活出意义

文章标题：人生除了成功富庶，更重要是活出意义
文章作者：潘丽萍
发表日期：2012年3月6日
发表媒体：《我报》My Paper

　　最近，我在国会上询问，我们是否能说服最高收入的国人，多付出一些税务，共同分担责任，照顾社会上的弱势群体。

　　我能谅解政府理性的反应, 那就是：不。

　　一个存在的现实是, 如果政府要有能力的人才缴付更高的税务，他们可能不愿肩负起更大的责任，更糟的是，这些人才可能会离开新加坡，到税务比较低的地方去发展。

　　这种情况不禁让我深思，人生的目标到底是什么？

人生的3个阶层

　　我在著名的策略家及作家华理克博士（Rick Warren）的著作中学到，人生中有3个层次：

层次①：挣扎求存（Survival）

　　在挣扎求存这个层次里的人，可能每天都在为下一餐有没有着落而担心。他们也可能流离失所，又或者担忧会失去栖身之处。世界上，平均每天只靠2美元（约2.50新元）过活的人，占了很大的一个比率。

　　许多新加坡人并不生活在这个最低的层次。当然，也有一些国人在夹缝中生活，勉强度日。

　　政府与社会人士有责任为他们编织一张安全网，在适当的时候给予他们生活上的 技能，让他们可以晋升到另一个层次，过更好的生活。

层次②：成功富庶（Success）

　　多数的新加坡人都属于成功富庶的层级。他们有得上学，接受教育，找得到安稳的工作，拥有组屋，偶尔会出国旅游度假。他们的孩子有机会接受好的教育。他们居住的房子里，有电视、冰箱、冷气和其他奢侈品。

　　成功富庶这个层次里的人，拥有高技能，赚取高收入，时常出国。这也包括了继承丰厚家产的人士。

层次③：活出意义（Significance）

　　最高的一个层级是“活出意义”的境界。华理克博士建议，人生，要活到最有意义的境界，就应该从这个“成功富庶”的层级，更上一层楼，到达“活出意义” 的层次。

　　意义，并不仅只是思考“靠什么来生活”，而是思考“生活为的是什么”。

　　在这个层级，你开始为你和家人以外的人，贡献出你的资源，你的时间、才华、金钱、资产等等。

　　英国前首相邱吉尔说过：你靠你所得到的东西来生活，你靠你所付出的东西来塑造人生。(You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.)

囚犯一无所有, 也可彼此友爱

　　不过我相信，一个人无论是在挣扎求存的层级，或是成功富庶的层级，都可以选择晋升到“活出意义”的层次。

　　心理学家法兰柯（Victor Frankl），在他的著作《活出意义》（Man’s Search for Meaning）中写说，他亲眼目睹集中营里的一些囚犯一无所有，没有任何物质上的东西可以跟人分享，但他们仍然可以关心和帮助他人。

　　我认识一些乐龄居民，他们住在租赁组屋，并不富裕，但他们却能付出时间，天天到附近的乐龄活动中心帮忙。

　　我也认识一名政要的夫人，虽然是日理万机的女企业家，平日非常忙碌，但她从不吝啬于付出时间和精力，帮助穷人和残疾人士。

　　在我的慈善机构, 一位澳州籍的医药顾问关了她位于乌节路、非常赚钱的诊所，来帮我带领一群心理学家和治疗师，致力于改善新加坡的特别教育。

　　这些都是付出自己的时间和才能，选择“活出意义”的例子。

　　你作出你的选择了吗？

翻译／《我报》翻译组
（英文原文可在潘丽萍女士的Facebook以及《我报》的Facebook上阅读）


（附上潘丽萍Facebook上的英文原稿）

3 Levels of Living: Survival, Success and Significance

Recently, I asked in Parliament if the highest income earners in our country could be persuaded to pay a little more tax to co-share the responsibility of looking after the less privileged in society.

I can understand the rational "no" response.

Indeed, it is a sad reality that Governments run the risk that when they tax capable talents higher, the latter may become demotivated to take on bigger responsibilities and worse, take flight and move to more tax-friendly countries.

The episode caused me to reflect about the purpose of life.

Let me share one perspective here.

I recall learning from authors such as Rick Warren about the 3 levels of living life - the Survival level; the Success level; and the Significance level.

SURVIVAL

At the Survival level, people worry about when their next meal will come. They may be homeless or concerned about losing the roof over their head. There is a high percentage of people in the world who live on an average of US$2/- a day.

Now, many people in Singapore do not live at this level. However, there may be some who fall through the cracks and are barely surviving. It is the duty of the government and fellow citizens to do our best to build a social safety net to catch them and where appropriate, equip them so they can move to a better level.

SUCCESS

Most people in Singapore live at the Success level. They attend schools, secure jobs, own a flat and travel occasionally for holidays. Their children receive decent education and their homes are equipped with TVs, fridges, air-conditioning and other luxuries.

At the highest end of Success are those who are highly skilled, globally mobile and very well-paid. Then there are those who have inherited or accumulated a lot of wealth.

However, to live life at one’s highest potential, Warren and others suggested that people should move from success to significance.

SIGNIFICANCE

Significance, they say, is when you don’t simply live ON something, but to live FOR something. It is when you start giving your resources – your time, talent, money and other assets – to do things for others beyond yourself and your family. It is what ex-UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill said, “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.”

However, I personally believe that whether one is living in survival or success mode, one can still choose to be significant.

Victor Frankl, in his book, Man's Search for Meaning, recorded acts of kindness even amongst prisoners who had nothing to give.

I met several elderly volunteers, even if they are themselves living in rental flats, gave their time to help other members of the nearby Senior Citizens' Activity Centre.

The wife of a political leader I know, despite her very busy schedule as a corporate honcho, never fails to respond promptly with her time and money to appeals to help the disabled and poor.

One Australian consultant closed her lucrative Orchard Road clinic to help me lead a team of psychologists and therapists to improve the special education landscape of Singapore.

All the above are examples of people who chose to give away their time and talent – to live at the Significance level.

The question is - have we made a choice?

Denise Phua Lay Peng
5 March 2012