Hope you’re all doing great! 🙂
Today, I decided to write about something that has been bothering me for quite some time now – the psychological mindset of people to go by the so called ‘norms of the society’; to be so concerned about what everyone else is going to think about their acts, their behavior, their appearance, their choices and so many other things that they begin to lose their own individuality in the process! Also, all of us want to do what we want to but we still stop those who do the same. Why can’t we grow together?
Nothing hinders an individual’s growth process as much as this mindset. It’s sad. We want to do something but we don’t because we don’t know what the ‘others’ are going to think about us. We are afraid of facing criticism. We fear judgement. We don’t know whether doing something ‘different’ is right. We want to be ‘accepted’.
Well, criticism and judgement are going to happen either way. They always do. A person who does something good will be criticized by those that can’t do the same and a bad deed is criticized anyway. Judgement is an attribute of mediocre minds, are we seriously so afraid of that mediocrity? You do anything, they’ll judge you anyway; then, why not instead do what you want and be judged?
“I think everybody is weird. We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrased or ashamed of it.” – Johnny Depp
Similarly, doing something different and taking a step away from the crowd should certainly have nothing to do with the others.
“People may hate you for being different and not living by society’s standards, but deep down, they wish they had the courage to do the same.”
Wait, but we don’t want to be hated! We must realize, no matter how great an individual, haters will always exist. Always! There will always be people who don’t like you; the way you look, the way you talk, the things you say, the way you dress, the things you believe in, the music you listen to. Nut the truth is: it is up to you if you let them ruin your day, or if you learn to stand up for yourself and accept yourself just the way you are. You are not here to please anyone. Just try to be as good as you can and do what you want.
What I fail to understand is, who are those ‘others’?! Are they going to live our lives for us? Are they going to eat and excrete for us? Are they going to face the troubles and joys of our lives for us? Are they going to breathe for us?!
We are here in this beautiful existence as a unique individual creation of mother nature. We posses divine souls, each here for a different purpose. No two possessions were meant to be the same. Otherwise why would there be diversity at all? Then why is it that we fail to understand the very basic essence of our being and take away its peace?! Why do we get so overcome with those norms and opinions that we begin to do it at the cost of our own happiness? We want to be accepted, but how can we expect others’ to accept us and our ways when our own internal belief system doesn’t accept it? Karma will work either way. We need to accept ourselves and enrich our own selves before expecting it from outside. And that is possible only when we are courageous enough to do what we feel is right. What makes US happy. No, I’m not being suggestive of being selfish here. I’m only suggesting self-love. If we love ourselves enough to do what makes us happy, we will certainly make those around us happy too. We have to learn to say no. And we have to learn to change something instead of whining about how we want to do something but we don’t solely because of “others”. People come, people go. We lead our own lives and so we should lead it in our way.
“When writing the story of your life, don’t let some one else hold the pen.”
You decide what makes you happy.
You already know what you truly want to do.
Nothing is too small or too big to be done if it makes YOU joyful.
You possess infinite strength to do anything you want.
Don’t let the noise of the world stop you from bringing out the best in you.
Be who YOU want to be, not what others want to see.
Just do it!
It’ll not only save you from the regrets of not having done something, but will also allow you to live peacefully.
Ignore the rest!
Everything will fall into place once you follow your heart.
It always does! 🙂
“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So, it’s better to listen to what it has to say.” – Paulo Coelho, Alchemist
At the same time, we must make sure we’re not practicing hypocrisy and hindering some one who is willing to take a different step from doing it. Encouraging them instead would be the right thing to do. 🙂
Love and peace to all ❤
The Invictus Soul 