7 Mayan proverbs to value the present

Humanity has always been a source of wisdom. If we look at ancient Mayan proverbs, for example, we can find little pills of intelligence whose validity has not gone out of fashion at any time in history.

You cannot judge a people, a race or a civilization without doing an elementary conjunctural exercise. That is to say, We cannot – it would be very unfair – judge facts and acts of the past with the eyes of the present.. Among other reasons, because the influence that the context has on what we do or say is very great.

However, the more we study history, the easier it becomes. find small lessons in the form of proverbs, fables or sayings that, due to their association with the human species as such, do not go out of fashion.

Thus, from an anthropological point of view, we cannot affirm that ‘every past time was better’ in a categorical way. However, yes we can look for small capsules of wisdom that allow us to live better our present.

Mayan proverbs of current relevance

There are many mysteries that the Mayan civilization still hides for us.. This ancient people, who lived in what is now Mexico, concentrated a good part of their wisdom in their proverbs; excellent testimonies that we now collect in this article, since the way in which they saw the world can serve us for the way in which we operate today.

Look to you

This proverb is as simple as it is timeless and powerful. No matter how many years pass, If we want to know what we really are, we have to look in a mirror. If it is physical, we will see our physicality, if it is internal, we will observe what our mind and our being hides.

Use logic

This Mayan proverb is so logical that, sometimes, It is difficult to understand that we overlook it or skirt around it. In a basket with holes, corn, rice and other products will fall out. So, knowing something so simple, why do we sometimes insist on impossible things, knowing their lack of viability?

Psychology gives us a reason: it tells us that sometimes we embark on projects that we cannot complete, compared to others that truly represent a challenge tailored to us, so as not to harm our self-esteem if we fail.

Think what you are going to do

This Mayan proverb is almost as old as life itself. If you don’t want to regret your actions and their consequences later, think first what you are going to do or say and analyze the possible reactions, this way you will avoid problems.

Each thing has the value it has

This is one of those Mayan proverbs that strongly reminds us of the Spanish proverb. For example, we could associate it with the one who says that ‘no one gives a penny for anything’. That is to say, each thing has its value and, although some want to deceive people into believing that something is more valuable than it really is, in reality, each thing is worth what it is worth and costs what it costs.

The truth

When a person does not get straight to the point when talking about a specific topic, they may be lying. In this case, the Mayans warned of that type of individual when begins to make dialectical detours to hide what may be real and does not mean.

Consistency at work

Let’s go with another proverb that is a classic and that appears in any historical and current proverb. Consistency and encouragement at work is the best medicine so that everything done turns out well and as it should, meeting the set objectives.

Criticism and self-criticism

If we associate it with the Spanish proverb, for example, it may remind you of the one who says: ‘Do not look at the straw in another’s eye, look at the beam in your own.’ That is, before you start criticizing other people and talking about what others do, look first what you doWell, maybe you have more to keep quiet about than the person you are referring to, especially when we talk about criticism that is not positive.

These are seven of the many Mayan proverbs that this wise society created to explain its present. Without a doubt, they were people capable of analyzing their civilization and their people and they knew how to make it evident in this rich heritage that has survived to this day without losing relevance.

You might be interested…