Hold Up A Mirror, Not Accusations

To be part of the solution is not a slogan; it is a lifelong practice of awareness, courage, and compassion.

• Each moment offers that choice: to add to the weight of the world’s problems, or to lighten it, however slightly, with our actions.

By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden

There is a saying often repeated in discussions about responsibility: “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” But life is rarely that simple. In truth, most of us exist somewhere in between contributing, consciously or unconsciously, to the very issues we criticize, while also holding the power to help resolve them. Whether the topic is corruption, environmental destruction, inequality, or social division, our daily choices place us both inside the problem and inside its potential solution.

The Mirror of Accountability

It is easier to point fingers than to hold up a mirror. We blame “the system,” politicians, corporations, or social media for the ills of society, but we rarely stop to question our own role in sustaining them. Every time we stay silent in the face of injustice, tolerate dishonesty for convenience, or waste resources without care, we strengthen the very structures we wish to dismantle.

Take corruption as an example. It is common to condemn corrupt officials, yet many of us participate in the same ecosystem when we offer a bribe to “get things done.” Similarly, we criticize environmental policies, but still rely on plastic, ignore recycling, and prefer convenience over conscience. This hypocrisy is not unique to one society; it is a global human tendency. The uncomfortable truth is that systems persist because ordinary people enable them. Once we recognize this, the path toward becoming part of the solution begins with personal responsibility.

The Layers of the Problem

Being “part of the problem” doesn’t always stem from malicious intent. Often, it is rooted in ignorance, habit, or helplessness. For instance, many social inequalities, gender bias, class divisions, or prejudice are deeply embedded in culture and language. People may unknowingly reinforce them through everyday behavior. Jokes, traditions, or comments that seem harmless might carry the weight of centuries of discrimination.

The same applies to economic and social systems that favor a few at the expense of many. In societies where privilege determines opportunity, silence from those benefiting from privilege perpetuates inequality. Neutrality, in such cases, becomes complicity. The absence of action allows injustice to thrive.

However, it is also important to recognize that awareness takes time. People must first understand how they are involved in a problem before they can change their role. Education, open dialogue, and self-reflection are essential steps in transforming passive complicity into active engagement.

Becoming Part of the Solution

Being part of the solution doesn’t always mean starting a movement or launching a campaign. It begins with small, consistent acts of integrity. When individuals choose fairness over favoritism, honesty over convenience, empathy over judgment, they shift the moral climate of a community. One person’s ethical choice inspires another’s, creating a ripple effect far greater than it may appear.

In workplaces, for example, the decision to speak up against unethical practices can encourage others to do the same. In schools, challenging stereotypes helps shape more open-minded generations. In daily life, reducing waste, respecting diversity, and practicing compassion all contribute to collective well-being. Every solution begins with individual reform.

The transformation also involves the courage to admit our own faults, to unlearn, and to improve. It is easy to identify villains in society; it is harder to identify the small fragments of those villains that live within ourselves. But when people start questioning their role in any dysfunction, genuine progress becomes possible.

Collective Responsibility and Systemic Change

Of course, personal responsibility alone is not enough. Many problems are structurally rooted in laws, governance, economics, and power. But even systemic change depends on the moral energy of individuals. Laws don’t emerge in a vacuum; they evolve through social demand and public pressure. When enough people care, act, and refuse to tolerate injustice, policies shift, and systems reform.

Take environmental activism as an example. Decades ago, climate change was dismissed as a fringe concern. Today, because of millions of individuals who raised their voices, changed their consumption habits, and pressured governments, the issue has become central to international policy. The same principle applies to movements for human rights, equality, and accountability: collective awareness begins with individual awakening.

However, this process requires balance. Some people focus so much on identifying blame that they exhaust the energy needed for solutions. Others avoid discussing problems altogether to maintain comfort. The ideal lies in the middle to recognize the problem clearly, accept our share in it honestly, and work persistently toward its solution.

The Role of Perspective

Our perception shapes whether we see ourselves as victims or contributors. A person who sees litter on the street might either complain about civic authorities or bend down to pick it up. A teacher may either lament students’ disinterest or adapt his/her teaching methods. A citizen may either curse the government or participate in improving community life. The difference lies not in circumstance, but in mindset.

When we view ourselves as powerless, we surrender agency. When we view ourselves as responsible, even small actions regain meaning. Society changes not when the powerful act, but when the ordinary refuse to remain passive. History’s greatest transformations abolition of slavery, women’s rights, and democratic reforms, were driven by people who stopped seeing themselves as helpless and started acting as catalysts.

Moral Leadership in Daily Life

We often imagine “leaders” as those in political or corporate positions, but moral leadership exists in ordinary lives. It is the parent teaching a child honesty, the shopkeeper refusing to cheat customers, the journalist speaking truth despite pressure, and the student standing up against bullying. Each of these actions weakens a problem and strengthens its solution.

True leadership is not about authority; it is about integrity. A society built on integrity does not need constant supervision but regulates itself through conscience. When people understand that their smallest actions matter, the collective direction of a nation changes.

From Blame to Action

Blame creates division; responsibility creates direction. When people spend energy identifying who is wrong instead of what can be done right, progress stalls. The shift from being part of the problem to part of the solution requires a change in attitude, from complaint to contribution.

For instance, rather than complaining about low literacy, one could volunteer to teach or sponsor education. Instead of criticizing wasteful behavior, one could model sustainable living. Instead of lamenting corruption, one could practice transparency in their own work. Small deeds, multiplied by millions, become a revolution.

The Continuous Process

No one is permanently on one side. Being part of the problem or the solution is a continuous process, changing with circumstances, awareness, and choices. Sometimes, despite good intentions, we may contribute to harm. Other times, our smallest efforts may heal more than we realize. The goal is not perfection but consciousness, a willingness to keep learning, correcting, and improving.

Conclusion: The Choice Within

Every generation inherits a world shaped by both mistakes and wisdom. Whether the next generation finds it better or worse depends on the choices we make today. The line between problem and solution runs not through systems or societies, but through every human heart.

We can either live as silent witnesses to the decay around us or as active participants in its renewal. To be part of the solution is not a slogan; it is a lifelong practice of awareness, courage, and compassion. Each moment offers that choice: to add to the weight of the world’s problems, or to lighten it, however slightly, with our actions.

In the end, the question is simple: when history looks back, will we be remembered as part of the problem, or part of the solution?

Read: Swimming: The Life-Saving Skill

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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.