People are afraid to be who they really are, unique qualities seem to be pushed aside by society, and ultimately people tend to conform to the "norm".
"Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members."
Society doesn't seem to encourage individualism.
"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind."
If you do not think for yourself, and believe in it, there is no truth in any other aspect of your life; it all starts with YOU.
"What I must do, is all that concerns me, not what people think."
Do what you want to do, what people think about you are secondary to your personal goals and interests.
"What I must do, is all that concerns me, not what people think"
I would like to start my blog out with a quote that immediately came to mind when I started to analyze the aforementioned quote; "Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." -- Dr. Seuss. If you keep that quote in mind, you'll feel a lot better about your opinions and decisions because true friends and good company will support you. Those who do not support or encourage "don't matter". Next, "The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don't let them put you in that position." --Leo Buscaglia. This quote sums up my entire journal entry reflecting upon Emerson's statement because it's true. It's so hard to be yourself in a society that produces a controlled "norm". People don't want to be "different" or "weird" so they conform to what they feel society would applaud them for. This whole new mind-set, in my humble opinion, is a load of you know what. Society should encourage individuals and should encourage new and unique personalities. If everyone was the same, what kind of society would that be? It would be described in one word; BORING. If people are not encouraged by their surrounding peers, they tend to retreat and not express their true opinions and feelings. Now, for the few people who do continue to stand out, they are further pushed to the periphery of this new accepted attitude. It doesn't all add up.
Essentially, to contribute to society you need to be yourself, and not what anyone else wants you to be. If you aren't true to yourself then you are not benefiting from anything! Moral of the story is, don't let people tell you what is important versus what's not, what's socially acceptable versus what's not, what's right versus what's not. These things are opinions, and they are not reflective of every single person. Everyone IS different, and that is the way things should remain. Society should praise individuality and the courage to be different. People should find the strength to stick to your morals and not give in to anything else. People who pressure you will becoming increasingly insignificant in your life, and the power of personal triumph of maintaining your ideals will never abate.
Essentially, to contribute to society you need to be yourself, and not what anyone else wants you to be. If you aren't true to yourself then you are not benefiting from anything! Moral of the story is, don't let people tell you what is important versus what's not, what's socially acceptable versus what's not, what's right versus what's not. These things are opinions, and they are not reflective of every single person. Everyone IS different, and that is the way things should remain. Society should praise individuality and the courage to be different. People should find the strength to stick to your morals and not give in to anything else. People who pressure you will becoming increasingly insignificant in your life, and the power of personal triumph of maintaining your ideals will never abate.
