“A rooster is not expected to crow for the whole world.” – African proverb
We live in an era when technology has enabled the abundance of information – to such extent that knowledge is becoming the currency of the day. With this advantage, one would expect a rise of the individual’s wonderfulness through critical thinking and analysis in our interactions and relationships.
Sadly, not much has changed. Many of us continue to adopt the standards and values of the masses. What this means is that more and more of us are less of ourselves because we keep surrendering the integrity of our uniqueness in order to embrace the roar of the crowd.
This is one of the inhibiting attitudes that prevents us from exploring and fulfilling our potential. Too often, many of us are so preoccupied with working toward being a part of the masses that we forget to find ourselves. While it is true that “we exist within a society and are awash in societal standards that often permeate our consciousness without our conscious consent or even awareness”, there is always a need to project our uniqueness; for the flourishing of our humanity rests on diversity and not on uniformity.
If you have ever sat among the fans of an opposing team in a stadium, you can appreciate why people are afraid to be themselves. Their roar is so loud and their chants reverberate through your soul with such force that, if you are not mentally disciplined, you will be chanting along with them before you realise you are cheering the opposition.
Many of us underestimate the boundless wonderfulness that exists within us. We hesitate to be ourselves, to share our honest understanding of life, because the roar of the crowd shapes us to be ‘politically correct’ individuals. While this cultural imbibing has its pluses, especially in how we are governed, we need to appreciate that it stifles our creativeness and hinders our individual integrity. We have a responsibility to project our wonderfulness. Not only is that a sign of how much we love ourselves, but if we do not we are contributing to the challenges confronting the world.
But to bring out the best of ourselves, we should find ways to “mediate between the inescapable social dimension of our lives and the unassailable integrity of individual personhood”. That is the hurdle many of us struggle to overcome. It is so scary Marianne Williamson, the American author, labelled it our deepest fear.
Nevertheless, she was quick to point out “Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God, your ‘playing small’ doesn’t serve the world”.
Often, we play small because we are more interested in chanting with the masses than daring to be ourselves. It is understandable that wearing green when everyone else is in red can be quite intimidating. You stick out like a sore-thumb, allowing the critics to descend on you with nothing but negativity. And when your friends and family chide you for being different, you realise it is going to be a roller-coaster and not a one special moment activity. The price of being yourself is that the masses will label you as different – and say it with a negative tone to antagonise you.
However, you need to appreciate that the honour and conscience of the masses is assumed rather than real. They assume their might is right, thus their drive to rope-in as many as possible. Interestingly, they also talk about popular opinion, when in truth they have none. They forget ‘the popular opinion’ was the opinion of an individual, which they bought without much thought because they are either scared to think, or they are unthinking. They just accept whatever is pushed down their throats, and when their flaw is pointed out they roar so loud – it feels right for them. That is why they can impoverish a community and a society without realising the harmful role they played.
If you understand what it means to be wonderfully and fearfully created, you will steer clear off the masses. For your specialness means you will account for every thought, word and action you pour on life. Remember, accountability is only law grace does not protect you from…
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Kodwo Brumpon is an author, a life coach and a philanthropist who inspires individuals, groups and organisations to think and feel that which is true by helping them positively respond to that which is beautiful while nudging them to let goodness govern their actions.
Comments, suggestions and requests should be sent to him at [email protected]
