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According to the 19th-century American philosopher and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, we all should:
Insist on yourself; never imitate.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The philosopher was among the many thinkers who were against conformity and went ahead to promote nonconformity, individuality, and self-reliance.
But unfortunately in the current modern society that we all live in, we are all very much aware of the never-ending external conforming pressures, which seem to attack us from all sides, it is rather too hard and difficult to not identify with the crowd.
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But then there are those despite trying to conform still feel not at peace, they still feel like there is something is missing, there seems to be this barrier that they cannot see but can feel it restricting them from experiencing life as per their own thinking rather than the society and group thinking. The feeling that there is more to life is always at the back of their heads.
In one of his essays, Emerson details out ideas which to me are a very much needed antidote against the external pressures in modern society to conform. For Emerson was a very strong believer in the importance of never identifying with the crowd, and instead staying true one's own unique path and inner laws.
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But caution for anyone willing to embark on such a path, a path towards leading an own life according to one's wishes and potentials, it is worth noting that the society will be so against such an individual that one has to be prepared to be frowned upon by many. Quoting Emerson:
For nonconformity the world whips you with its displeasure.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Anyone who chooses to be a nonconformist will be viewed by the majority as a threat. Many individuals see the nonconformist as someone who needs to be educated in the said "ways of the world," in other words to be domesticated to the socially accepted worldview and values.
The fear of nonconformist individuals by society stems from the fact that these individuals are by their own nature creators, they are individuals who carve out their own view of reality, arrive at their own idea of what it actually means to be human, and ultimately define that which is good, beautiful, and true, all according to their unique perspective and world view.
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In the words of Emerson, society hates and despises such individuals, since society loves:
not realities and creators, but names and customs
Ralph Waldo Emerson
To society, the names and customs, give the conformist a sense of security and stability. To them, they provide a sense of comfort and act as anchors which the conformist grasp onto to gain back some semblance of orientation in the midst of ambiguity and times of uncertainty of reality.
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But being a nonconformist, a creator, one chooses to embrace the ambiguity of reality and through it carves out a life based on own uniqueness. To the creator, governing inner laws are higher than the collective laws followed by the masses. The sacred within is more important than the social idols worshipped by the others.
And truly it demands something godlike in him who has cast off the common motives of humanity and has ventured to trust himself for a taskmaster. High be his heart, faithful his will, clear his sight, that he may in good earnest be doctrine, society, law, to himself, that a simple purpose may be to him as strong as iron necessity is to others!
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I agree with the fact that, to some people, society knows the best, but to others, a select few, thinking for our own selves is rather more fulfilling.
It is hard going against the norm and trying to forge a unique path, especially in the current society, but for those who are able to accomplish this, they get to realize that indeed there is more to life.
And hence my love for philosophy, insights from the ancients despite them being gone a long time, helps in guiding anyone who has the desire to realize themselves, realize what more there is to life.
See you HIVERS in my next update.
Peace!