Square Peg Round Hole
From every angle and from a very early age we are all taught and expected to conform. Falling into line makes for an easier life, you will avoid bullying from peers and punishment from teachers at school. Free thinking is encouraged only when that thinking is in line with society's "norms" and rules. Even as little children our natural curiosity and creativity is subdued by rules and regulations. Shame and embarrassment. The "normal" and the "not normal."
Even more difficult, we are expected to know what is normal and what is not... and if we deviate from that we are punished. Making us less and less likely to express ourselves freely and naturally. Confidence is damaged and we learn that to conform is to be accepted. To not conform is to be rejected.
As we grow, some people choose to rebel against the norm and find ways to accept and embrace their true selves, whilst sadly many do not. Conforming is safe, predictable and what is expected, and shaming or belittling those who choose not to is comforting and reassuring. This turns a lot of people bitter and defensive, and sadly that bitterness seeps out as a desire to in turn hurt other people.
It can be scary and even dangerous not to conform. It can be lonely and isolating depending on your situation. It can break apart families and turn lives upside down. It can make people question everything and destroy mental health. At the same time it can be freeing, do wonderful things for your self awareness, make people far more accepting and loving of others, and completely change the way we look at the world and human beings in general.
I've made that scary choice to not conform many times in my life. Once I started questioning one thing, I started questioning everything. I forged my own path and learned many lessons, some painfully and others beautifully. I'm a much different person than I was as a young child. My mind has been opened to all sorts of possibilities and many different ways of thinking. This journey has been both terrifying and joyful, but I still wouldn't change my decision not to conform.
Have you ever made a conscious decision not to conform? If so do you regret it or embrace it? How have you found the journey?
Even more difficult, we are expected to know what is normal and what is not... and if we deviate from that we are punished. Making us less and less likely to express ourselves freely and naturally. Confidence is damaged and we learn that to conform is to be accepted. To not conform is to be rejected.
As we grow, some people choose to rebel against the norm and find ways to accept and embrace their true selves, whilst sadly many do not. Conforming is safe, predictable and what is expected, and shaming or belittling those who choose not to is comforting and reassuring. This turns a lot of people bitter and defensive, and sadly that bitterness seeps out as a desire to in turn hurt other people.
It can be scary and even dangerous not to conform. It can be lonely and isolating depending on your situation. It can break apart families and turn lives upside down. It can make people question everything and destroy mental health. At the same time it can be freeing, do wonderful things for your self awareness, make people far more accepting and loving of others, and completely change the way we look at the world and human beings in general.
I've made that scary choice to not conform many times in my life. Once I started questioning one thing, I started questioning everything. I forged my own path and learned many lessons, some painfully and others beautifully. I'm a much different person than I was as a young child. My mind has been opened to all sorts of possibilities and many different ways of thinking. This journey has been both terrifying and joyful, but I still wouldn't change my decision not to conform.
Have you ever made a conscious decision not to conform? If so do you regret it or embrace it? How have you found the journey?