At some point during puberty and the discovery of the simple ideology that, I donât actually have to like everything and agree with everyone, the philosophy of âindividualismâ dawned upon me.
Individualism. âThe habit or principle of being independent or self-reliant;â self-direction, free thought. Little me ATE that shit up. My mother dresses me in atrocious clothes? I dress like a ruffian to spite her because I am a ruffian â just not a violent one due to legal reasons. Iâm a lawless individual, yet I live by my own dogma â although I think I was just going through my emo phase. (I still am, if you know me in real life then you know).
However, some fundamental aspects of this âantiâ way of living still reside within me. There is something most definitely empowering about being your own; self-expression and freedom from the mental and physical cages of society; and one would heavily assume this lifestyle would mesh nicely with the colourful youths of today, but when youâre amid a generation constructed upon hyper-realities and capitalism that if personified, would be on a multitude of illegal substances.. the truth of being a so called âindividualistâ isnât the most hip new age thing after all.
But where does that desire even come from? Well, there are many tales that span from the birth of recorded language that describe characters and archetypes of feeling unaccepted, the need to protest or rebel against a standard - or even the ambition of self fulfilment. All these elements resonate with all kinds of people. My kind of people. People who want more than what is given to them, but from your own creation and not at the expense of others. And that is where the line blurs.
What it has become now is.. complicated. Almost like an invisible war with others and yourself. In this day and age, capitalistic tendencies happen to seep through all behaviors and pretty much anything that has any value to anyone ever.
Want to be an individual? Be better than everyone! Sign up for this get rich quick scheme now!
Want to be an individual? Create the same product again and again every year with the help of child labor! The people wonât know but theyâll love the product regardless!
Want to be an individual? Go to gym for 8 hours every day and eat nothing but unseasoned chicken and rice! But donât worry, you will have more women than any other man which makes you better than everyone!
At some point, somewhere, the authenticity of pure intention diminished. And quite frankly, that is so lame. Weâve started doing things for other people again, clouding our judgement with the illusion that itâs actually for ourselves; but if youâre getting silicone implants in your backside, youâre not doing that for yourself are you? Let's be real.
So the next time you make a decision that holds some sort of value to you, just take a brief moment, a small one, it wonât kill you to try; but just think:
"Does this actually make me feel good about myself or am I doing it because I've been conditioned to think it does by other people?"
You never know, the one thing keeping you down this whole time may have just been you.
