Individuality

Individuality is a trait that is essential to the fulfillment of the human spirit. It is one of the components of a human being that makes us whole. Without individual views, and goals, we are left to always be guided in the right direction, instead of finding the meaning of our lives. Our individual purpose makes us want to live for our own good, because we have something to believe in that cannot be influenced by the doubts of the world around us. Individuality comes within the forms of intelligence, creativity, behavior, and contentment. What brings us together maybe what very well drives us apart, what we all have as individual goals is what divides us in the short term because we need space to explore. Each person’s individuality is tested as they experience life, and he or she understands when he or she refuses to conform to society that being your own person is isolating as it is important.

Individuals have their own mind. Even though we were taught to have a certain mindset, and live by a certain code, our decisions rest with ourselves. When it comes to how we think about things as adults, signs of intelligence at a young age foreshadow the qualities we possess to be fully utilized in the future. Intelligence in youth is as strong a predictor of mortality as any of the traditional medical risk factors (Deary/Maltby, 2013). Having high IQ does not guarantee success. If someone at a young age discovers what their talents are, but lives in an environment where they don’t have the support or resources to flesh it out, it becomes untapped potential. The type of family we have, the type of education we receive, and the social environment we grow up in determines individual intelligence (Cherry, 2017). For example, if one person grew up in a privileged environment with unlimited social mobility, they are more likely to believe in themselves because they believe nothing can stop them; compared to a person who is under privileged, they will not work as hard because they likely don’t see a need to compete because they are more secure, and will win because of the abundance of opportunity the underprivileged lacks. This observation shows that while the privileged individual has the tools, the individual has the privilege to try their hardest to achieve a goal that they care about, working for the tools to build their future that would be entirely their own. In either circumstance, what really matters is the existence of originality. Wherever one goes in life, if they are allowed to be themselves, they will be more successful in what they do, and with that comes the continuing contribution to culture (Atlee, 2003).

One of the most intriguing aspects of an individual is their creative capabilities. Each person has their own way of thinking, based on the environment they grew up in. However, using one creative mind has its flaws. As individuals, we are used to our mundane way of thinking about solutions (Goleman/Kaufman, 1992). This means that we may have a resistance to think outside the box from time to time because of the limited outside influences applied to our thinking. One of the causes of this could be our inclination to censor ourselves. Our conscience, right, or wrong, confines our creative spirit within the boundaries of what seems acceptable to our own standards. Our individual creative drive can be rooted in where we come from. If one is from a society that values individualism, they will likely come up with more creative ideas. One who comes from collectivist societies, comes up with high quality ideas, which are more likely to be used over the dozens of ideas one person could think of (Ogihara/Uchida, 2014). This is likely because an idea from a group is formed by the best each person has to offer. When there are more voices, there are more answers, when there are more people, there are more options. When all the pressure is put onto one person, they seem to disregard an important need to connect with others. Without an audience to praise our work, we are less likely to think of ourselves as creative in the first place (Goleman/Kaufman, 1992). When constantly trying to be our best creatively, it becomes a balancing act between the need to be distinctive, and the need for human interaction (Blatt/Guisinger, 1994).

While we each want to try to stand out, and be something we can be proud of, our behaviors are shaped by our life goals, and if one’s life goals are not respectable, or realistic, that could lead to self-destructive behaviors. Life goals are shaped by what we grow up thinking is important. We act a certain way because we know where we want to go, but do not want the potential consequences that come along with not conforming to the world around us. Those who come from humble beginnings want to be something, but in their circumstances, the margin of error is zero. Parents of the underprivileged typically instill the importance of following all of the rules, and having heightened consideration for their family, and community. These people do not have a financial safety net to bounce back with on their own. They will need to rely on family and friends to get back on their feet. For families that are middle to upper-class, they tend to see themselves as independent, and tend to move away from the family and community to pursue their individual goals (Stephens/Townsend, 2017). When they fall on hard times, they will likely have to rely on themselves to get back on their feet, which could result in better self-resilience, but could increase arrogance within themselves that could cause them to be standoffish, further pushing the chances away that someone would actually care about them. This may be what they want all along, but never saw a sense of community, like the underprivileged has seen, and therefore are resentful. In certain regions of the world, like East Asia, collectivism is observed. Everyone sinks or swims as a community. A group will likely cover for one person so that person doesn’t feel excluded (Ogihara/Uchida, 2014). In most minority groups and non-Western societies, it is imperative that each person tries to know and relate to one another. Western countries typically prioritize self-development, than human connection.

While it may sound like certain countries like China, Cuba, or Vietnam are forcibly painted the same color in order to accommodate to everyone’s needs, it brings the thought of individuality back to one component: happiness. Certain traits a collectivist society has are focused on selflessness, working in a group, and doing what’s best for society (Cherry, 2018). Happiness in this society is not achieved alone, happiness within oneself grows in a group. Once everyone feels like they are accepted, they will contribute to the happiness of their society (Delistraty, 2016). Even within more individualistic societies, the people who decide to dedicate their lives to working for the betterment of their society seem to be happier than those who want to serve themselves. This is because serving one’s self is an endless endeavor; human beings are susceptible to greed, their goals and desires shift, and become more advanced every day. One’s goal of happiness is not rooted in one accomplishment, but endless possibilities. Some people in the United States rally against certain ideas that result in sharing the success and the failure of everyone in society, such as free college education. This group of people believe that individual pursuit of success is the path to happiness and stability in society, however the U.S. takes the most antidepressant pills in the world. 11% of Americans over the age of 12 take an antidepressant (Friedman/Gould, 2016). This partly shows that seeking happiness on one’s own terms is not the only way, or the best way for a person to feel like their lives are happy and fulfilled. The success of human interaction depends on the person understanding their individual wants and interests in order to have self-respect first (Blatt/Guisinger, 1994). How are they able to be truthful to themselves, and have self-respect when it takes one mistake to ruin that person’s life? The answer is compromise, which can turn into self-defeat, and ends with regret and resentment.

In my experience, individuality has caused me to recognized in vain among my peers. It is never easy to express the truth, especially about yourself. Being all alone in one’s thoughts and accomplishments may cause someone to question the validity of their quest for individual freedom from other people’s visions of where they want their life to be. It has caused many to be lonely in their quest for happiness. People always want to be free from the world’s chains that binds them into a loop of closed-mindedness, but what some people have been trying to run away from is what individuality could be: closed-mindedness. People cannot imagine anyone taking away their destiny by any means. They do not see any way, but their way, because it’s their life. It keeps people from the outside world, choosing not to assimilate to life. A person who tries to have this level of individuality does not have to worry about finding their way back home, because they never had a home to begin with. Individuality makes a person into their own human without being human. It causes one to be opportunistic for their own gain, and it makes them blind to the truth of the real world around them, whatever that maybe. Some may have found their purpose in this world, they cement what they think their importance is in this world, but do they even know their purpose to the world around them. Do they feel content with being alone in their thoughts and aspirations? How does it feel to be the only one not content with their own accomplishments? Some always want something more, but don’t know how to break away from their own self. They don’t know how to compromise their vision, so they compromise themselves. A person’s individuality serves everyone else, but themselves. Individuality becomes an addiction. Individuals showed what they could offer to world if they were left alone for a while, but now that they’re all alone, the individual ends up being shut off from all the good things the world has to offer them, causing the person to be limited in their thinking. Believing in ourselves means to not believe in the good of humanity. Any deterrence to an individual’s goals are seen as an intentional attack on their intelligence, creativity, and behavior, and their ability to do good in those fields independently. They feel like the world is against them, and the individual becomes isolated and starts to believe that they are antisocial and unlovable because of their automatic resistance to human interaction out of fear of feeling threatened. In the end, it is the weaknesses that show, instead of the strengths of the individual human being. Compared to this, collectivism allows everyone to fail or succeed in anything they do, ditching the whole idea of originality, in its place is community. Without the need to be one against the world, one can think logically, and not have to worry about “survival”. When everyone works together for a common goal, it strengthens human bonding, and it creates a sense of belonging, something that would not exist if one chooses to live for themselves. Within the uncertainty of both mindsets, it must be understood that people, even one’s own self, are not perfect. There are things that need to be tolerated in order to be able to live with ourselves, and with others in this world. Whether it’s the perceived narcissism that comes with individualism, or the perceived helplessness of the individual in collectivism, neither are perfect, but we have to believe in something.

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