This is just a quick post reminding you to think for yourself and empower your mind.
With the wild amount of information that is constantly coming at us, something I believe is more important than it’s ever been is the ability to turn our minds into filters – using our best judgment to determine the information we let influence us and point us in a certain direction.
While I consider myself a non-conformist inherently, there are certain times where I am strikingly susceptible to influence. I’ll hear something someone says or read something someone wrote or watch a video someone made and think, “by damn, that’s the answer!” Then, later on upon reflection, I’ll realize that it was just another example of a moment where I let an outside voice act as my inner voice. I’m usually able to shake off whatever line of thinking that piece of information took me down (after a certain amount of processing) and i’m usually more set in myself because of the departure, but I can’t help but wonder what would be the case if I just blindly accepted certain sources of information as truth without thorough questioning.
I SOUND SO SNOBBY!! Let me see if I can clarify and make myself more likable…
Don’t get me wrong, I think the vast quantity of art, reading materials, information – it’s all great! It feels like there is an opportunity to learn more than ever before. At the same time, however, if we don’t sift through the information as it comes and keep our eyes and ears open for the, well, bullshit (for lack of a better term) then we are at serious risk of being sheep without even realizing we are sheep. This is legitimately scary to me.
If there’s one thing I’m incredibly passionate about, it’s encouraging people to think for themselves and respect their individuality/opinions/mindset without fear of being palatable or likable for others.
It takes constant work for me to remember to follow my own inner voice. To listen and pay attention to the world around me but to not let it be my compass.
What do you guys think? Is it easy for you to think for yourself? Do you find you are very influenced by the information that comes into your life, or are you able to clearly compartmentalize it and follow your own trajectory?
Looking forward to your thoughts,
McCurdy