Hey Steemians, it's Rabbe. The ones who have been reading my posts know that I've talked about following one's own path and not listening to others blindly. I think it is an important topic in the current state of the world. So, I'll share some of my thoughts with you guys.
Living under pressure
In the modern world, not a day goes by when you aren't connected to other people in some way. You listen to them, read what they have to say, hear their opinions on all kinds of things. Some tell them to you in a more neutral way, while others will be more aggressive. As social media comes more and more a part of our everyday lives, it becomes easier to hear people's opinions and see what the opinions of the masses are. Whether it was likes, upvotes, retweets or whatever, you know which opinions are common. And not only common, but commonly accepted. It's hard not to let this have an effect on you.
Echo chamber
Funny thing is, once someone offers an opinion on a silver plate, it's way easier to just take it instead of doing the research and forming your own based on that. However, this very easily results in a situation I see as an "echo chamber". Someone says something, others see it and share/retweet/repost/tell friends, more people see it and so on. In the end this opinion has become so popular that one will naturally start thinking it's "the right one" and convince themselves that's just how they feel too. The truth is, at this point you're just a parrot repeating what someone else has to say.
As an opposite to the previous scenario, there are always people that will want to disagree with everything and everyone. This is just as bad and has the same mechanism, except it needs that one person who decides to "fight the system" or something like that. From there other similar people will start parroting and the echo chamber is ready.
Tell me you haven't been in a situation where you are surrounded by people that have a uniform and usually a very strong opinion on something while you don't really agree but feel like you shouldn't say it out loud. It's easier to think that if multiple people have the same opinion, then it must be the right one. I for one have been in a situation like this a couple times. In the end we are just human and most of us seek acceptance and want to feel like we belong somewhere, so giving up your opinion for that feeling might feel like a small sacrifice.
I need to make one thing clear at this point. I am by no means saying that you should not have an opinion that's in line with what most people think. What I am saying is that you should just be absolutely sure that the opinion indeed is your own and you really feel the way you think you feel. Whether it was hating Trump, believing bitcoin will be 10 000$ by the end of the year, opposing gay marriage or whatever, be sure it's what you think.
Question yourself
I believe that true happiness can only be achieved by being yourself in it's entirity, and as a part of that you should have your personal beliefs and opinions. Belonging to a group might feel good for a while, but at the end of the day the need to be true to yourself will start bugging you.
So, always question your opinions and choices before you commit to them. "Is this really me or someone else talking?" might be in place if you aren't really sure about something.
So, that's all for today my friends. Stay true to yourself and don't take anything in without giving a few thoughts on it first. Not even this post ;)
Until next time. Peace.
-R