In modern society, well-known Kazakh poet Abay Kunanbayev’s remark, “To be a human being means to constantly strive to improve oneself,” serves as a quiet yet firm reminder to pause amid the hectic pace of life. As we chase efficiency and outcomes, we often lack time to reflect on ourselves. Observing a chaotic society, Abay realized that what collapses before institutions are human attitudes. When Abay spoke of improvement, he was not referring to the advancement of personal cleverness or skills, but the cultivation of the ability to care for oneself within the flow of life.
Without effort, humans grow dulled, blurred, and influenced by standards set by others. Today, we adopt others’ judgments with alarming ease. Fashionable emotions and definitive statements replace independent thought. Feelings such as anger and indignation demand immediate responses. As a result, personal responsibility is diffused and individual judgment is weakened. For Abay, self-improvement was not a competition to outperform others, but a process of reclaiming one’s inner compass—steadying a wavering mind and restoring personal standards.
In an era where anger is easily consumed and thinking grows shallow, humanity cannot sustain itself naturally. Self-improvement does not require grand achievements; it begins with the habit of questioning oneself, “Why do I think this way?” When such questions arise, we return to ourselves. Being human does not mean being perfect. Rather, it means refusing to abandon oneself and repeatedly choosing to live with awareness and intention.
