As we are born, and perhaps even before that, we are exposed to some form of cultural expressions, behaviours, rules, use and customs. Culture in many ways is the glue that bonds humans together. Culture defines how we relate with each other in different settings: in a tribe, a village, a nation, an organisation. In order to be accepted and to fit in we tend to subscribe to the local culture, be that a of set social norms or organisational rules of engagement and values.
The process to fit in starts very early in our life when we don’t have yet a full concept of who we are. In many ways the culture we grow in becomes part of our identity. The use of customs, the family traditions, religion, and education all contribute to the formation of this identity within the social context in which we live. Mirror neurones in our brain drive much of that process, scanning what everyone else does so that we can imitate them to fit in.
This is all well and good and, to some extent, necessary, yet in the process we are also shaped by a number of layers that tend to hide away part of who we are like, for example our true talents. Education curriculums are pretty standard and tend to focus on what is perceived as important, by a society, things like reading, writing, math etc. Leaving very little space for other more unusual talents, like artistic prowess, emotional competence, creative thinking. Social perspectives also influence our perception of what is considered more desirable, like achieving high grades in school, engaging in more prestigious professions, being rich, famous and powerful, etc.
All of these cultural perspectives make it very difficult for anyone to truly understand oneself, make healthy decisions about one’s own life and live a healthy and fulfilling life. It is as if we are addicted to culture, a drug that helps us fit in in society and survive, but it is often at odds with our authentic self. The consequences of such conflict can often be catastrophic at a personal level but also, in some cases, at a wider social level.
Of course, we cannot change an entire cultural ecosystem just to make our life easier. We are born in the culture we are born in, and in many ways, we have to engage with that experience to grow and develop, and if we are lucky, in due process we will find the courage to stand out against common perception, discover who we are and what we are truly capable of, and live in line with our authentic self.
The detox process from culture addiction is hard and it requires a deep level of self-awareness which is not always achievable by everyone. Usually dramatic and highly emotional events wake us up to and make us question who we are. Ultimately there is always somebody that has the courage to dig deeper into their own inner workings and take a stand on what they believe is important, they inspire others to do the same, slowly and swiftly they can change the course history.
As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “be the change you want to see in the world”.
Do you have the courage to question who you are, find your true self and be that change?
If each one of us can find that courage, perhaps we can build a culture of openness, acceptance and mutual appreciation where everyone feels included, loved and relevant for who they are.
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As we are born, and perhaps even before that, we are exposed to some form of cultural expressions, behaviours, rules, use and customs. Culture in many ways is the glue that bonds humans together. Culture defines how we relate with each other in different settings: in a tribe, a village, a nation, an organisation. In order to be accepted and to fit in we tend to subscribe to the local culture, be that a of set social norms or organisational rules of engagement and values.
The process to fit in starts very early in our life when we don’t have yet a full concept of who we are. In many ways the culture we grow in becomes part of our identity. The use of customs, the family traditions, religion, and education all contribute to the formation of this identity within the social context in which we live. Mirror neurones in our brain drive much of that process, scanning what everyone else does so that we can imitate them to fit in.
This is all well and good and, to some extent, necessary, yet in the process we are also shaped by a number of layers that tend to hide away part of who we are like, for example our true talents. Education curriculums are pretty standard and tend to focus on what is perceived as important, by a society, things like reading, writing, math etc. Leaving very little space for other more unusual talents, like artistic prowess, emotional competence, creative thinking. Social perspectives also influence our perception of what is considered more desirable, like achieving high grades in school, engaging in more prestigious professions, being rich, famous and powerful, etc.
All of these cultural perspectives make it very difficult for anyone to truly understand oneself, make healthy decisions about one’s own life and live a healthy and fulfilling life. It is as if we are addicted to culture, a drug that helps us fit in in society and survive, but it is often at odds with our authentic self. The consequences of such conflict can often be catastrophic at a personal level but also, in some cases, at a wider social level.
Of course, we cannot change an entire cultural ecosystem just to make our life easier. We are born in the culture we are born in, and in many ways, we have to engage with that experience to grow and develop, and if we are lucky, in due process we will find the courage to stand out against common perception, discover who we are and what we are truly capable of, and live in line with our authentic self.
The detox process from culture addiction is hard and it requires a deep level of self-awareness which is not always achievable by everyone. Usually dramatic and highly emotional events wake us up to and make us question who we are. Ultimately there is always somebody that has the courage to dig deeper into their own inner workings and take a stand on what they believe is important, they inspire others to do the same, slowly and swiftly they can change the course history.
As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “be the change you want to see in the world”.
Do you have the courage to question who you are, find your true self and be that change?
If each one of us can find that courage, perhaps we can build a culture of openness, acceptance and mutual appreciation where everyone feels included, loved and relevant for who they are.