Culture
We all have one (or many), grew up in one and it is this pervasive set of social standards & beliefs which dictate many of our actions, thoughts, and desires from a young age to our death.
But what is it exactly?
What is its function and purpose?
Is it dangerous & if so why? If not, why?
Have you thought about your culture in this way?
I bet many of you have. We for sure have. We’ve trained ourselves to perceive ourselves as is from outside, like anthropologists.
Many times we receive messages that there is a person we “should be” or there are things we should do when we reach a certain age: behaviors, life activities, starting a family, etc.
Definition of Culture
From Merriam-Webster:
a : the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also : the characteristic features of everyday existence (such as diversions or a way of life) shared by people in a place or time popular culture Southern culture
b : the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization a corporate culture focused on the bottom line
c : the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic studying the effect of computers on print culture
Culture can also be thought of as all of the things that pass under our radar as “the way things are.”
There truly is no “the way things are,” but life patterns can seem this way because we’ve been trained to see through culturally prescribed lenses. You know you’re hitting on culture when you think something is “just the way things are.” At that point, you realize that’s an unconscious pattern you’ve been living out under the guise of culture.
You have two choices, keep going this way if you like the pattern or….
Hack it!
You have to look at your life and take none of your “of coursenesses” for granted.
Take a deep breath and look around. Look at the clothes you’re wearing, the foods you’re eating for lunch. Look internally at your dreams or thoughts relating to “I Should…” This is your cultural framework.
Perhaps you’re happy with it and don’t want to hack it. Fine.
But we’ll say that we have come to the conclusion that the mainstream cultures around the world are violent and leading to the destruction of the earth, deterioration of diversity, and free thinking. (This doesn’t mean that all cultures and even all of a certain culture is like this- we’re pinpointing and simplifying a trend here for the sake of argument.)
This is not an attack on any one culture, moreover a reality check and analysis of the very foundation on which we live. The cultural framework we come from dictates thoughts, perspectives, ideas, approaches and attitudes. It may be considered a paradigm and inherent in this is in the inability to see the paradigm objectively. This means it can be a challenge to see the effects it may have on one’s outlook.
Where does our support and unwavering faith of a culture come from?
Perhaps we love the culture we are a part of and this can be a very healthy and positive thing.
Where it gets dangerous or unhealthy is when we unquestioningly follow a culture blindly without due self-reflection. Weather it be fear, ignorance, desire for safety or sameness that keeps individuals from questioning culture, this trend can lead to a culture that upholds unjust, immoral and destructive behavior. Ultimately any culture needs feedback loops to maintain a healthy balance and the members of any culture are just the ones to give that feedback, but only if they are willing.
Or maybe what keeps us from questioning culture is FEAR. Fear of stepping out, fear of being different or fear of change. Whatever keeps us from criticizing our culture (which leads to deeper awareness and growth) is a major contributor to upholding the traits that don’t serve the whole or support the greater good.
Culture is Defined by Those Who Believe In It
If we don’t believe in culture, it lessens in power.
If we call out negative patterns in our culture and create new pathways, the culture no longer runs on the same assumptions. It’s like operating procedures that we can opt out of once we become more conscious of them. In fact, many thinkers and change makers often criticize and live differently than the culture. This is where the majority of art, creativity, cutting edge things come from.
For homogeneity is death. Diversity brings greater life and is more resiliency.
It can be difficult to step out from our culture we are raised in, but usually when we do we find a host of other souls waiting there with open arms that we can then bounce ideas off of and co-create with. Life becomes exciting and not prescribed. It is inherent in our cells and ancestry to be an integrated part of the evolution process and it is this interface with diversity and co-creation that creates a more resilient culture.