In the previous writing, we introduced the concept of the "internal balance," which, in simple terms, can be understood as a way to account for our actions and their repercussions. This concept goes beyond responsibility for our actions, encompassing various internal elements unique to each individual. These elements cover a broad spectrum: our environment, both past and present, our aspirations and dreams, our attitudes and perspectives, as well as our values, moral principles, and thought processes. Together, all these aspects form a complex system. Considering each of them when evaluating our decisions can be somewhat complicated and overwhelming.
However, there is a way to synthesize all these elements in one place, simplifying the process of evaluating our actions. This is achieved by understanding our essence, which, like the balance, is unique to each person and their context. By being aware of who we are, we can better assess our decisions and their consequences.
The Monarchs of Shadows
Unfortunately, we live in a world where incompetence often prevails over merit simply because those representing it are in the majority. Although we speak of freedom of expression—particularly in the West, where we even boast of "having it"—the reality is quite different. In many respects, our societies are equal to or worse than the aristocratic courts of the past. Everyone demands morality, modesty, knowledge, and manners… in short, absolute refinement. However, those who demand it the most often promote irreverence, ignorance, a lack of formality, and total disregard for subtlety. This is akin to what pseudoscientists do concerning tea, where they disguise misinformation as marketing.
There would be no problem if we could point out those who disguise themselves as refined while promoting absolute carelessness in the shadows and bring them to justice for the harm caused. However, if you haven't tried this, do so discreetly, as it is highly likely that sooner or later, you will face the consequences of wishing the best for yourself and those around you. Ultimately, it is pointless to point fingers at the corrupt when those who govern and control are the actual monarchs of shadows, even more corrupt and better protected.
Being agents of positive change in this society is, as Charles Bukowski summarized when he said: "They can see you dying in a gutter, and they'll walk right by and spit on you." In an era where sensitivities are running high and "freedom of opinion reigns," expressing something the crowd does not share leads to exclusion. Let's set aside any controversial or trite topics: we have reached the point where even constructive criticism of a project is considered insensitive.
And what does all this imply? All of this represents a parasite; what follows is the disease that accompanies it.
The Malaria of Mediocrity
Despite years of evolution as human beings, at the end of the day, we are primarily governed by our instincts. It is no coincidence that we find the neocortex, the mammalian, and the reptilian among our brain types. Of course, the difference between humans and beasts is that humans can overcome their instincts. However, one instinct will always be present: the survival instinct.
It is obvious that there are cases where, despite being unfair or disagreeing, we do what we are told because there is "no option," and we have to be "resilient." Seth Godin, known as the father of permission marketing, explains in his book Purple Cow how we have all been part of a large factory since childhood. We run our schools like factories: we line children up, organize them into batches (called grades), and strive to ensure that no defective pieces come out. We do not allow anyone to stand out, fall behind, move ahead, or make a fuss (Godin, 2011). This does not stop at the end of school; on the contrary, this phenomenon continues throughout our lives.
Robert Greene adds to this discussion: If you flaunt going against the grain, boasting about your unconventional ideas and heterodox attitudes, people will think you only want attention and look down on others. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior (Greene & Elffers, 2010). This is a crucial point to consider. Social pressure and the desire for acceptance can lead us to silence our inner voice in favor of conformity, which makes us feel comfortable but does not represent who we are.
Although we are all aware of society's expectations, each one of us, without exception, has a thirst for pure water; we are tired of the same earthy-tasting water. Why? Most likely, it is because what we are, what we do, and how we act are not truly who we are. This internal conflict leads us to live bland and flat lives rather than the vibrant existence we could have.
This is not an exclusive topic of the 21st century. Musashi, the famous Japanese samurai, in his precept of "you can abandon your body, but never your honor," refers to this internal struggle throughout history. We must topicalize this idea to our current reality.
We face the fundamental question: what message do we convey to the world? Reflect on whether your communication aligns with your ideals, morals, and values. In other words, ask yourself if you are genuinely being yourself or if your behavior is conditioned by standards or social pressure.
In the digital age, the issue of reputation becomes even more relevant. Now, we have an in-person reputation and a digital one, which is born from our well-known digital footprint. Everything we do in the digital realm is recorded online, perpetuating an image that may or may not align with our authentic essence. It is crucial to be aware of this reality.
I leave you with a piece of advice you can choose to take or leave: every time you do something, both in the physical world and online, ask yourself the following questions:
- Does what I'm about to do represent me?
- Is this action genuinely mine, or is it conditioned?
- When someone gets to know me or sees my past, will I like that they associate it with what I'm about to do?
If all the answers to these questions are "yes," you significantly reduce the margin of "error." The less uncertainty, the lower the risk. In a way, you ensure that what you do and share genuinely represents you.
Each of us is different, which does not mean we should be judged. However, we must ensure we are entirely realistic with ourselves. We must not allow a material, social, or economic benefit to lead us to act against ourselves and our beliefs. Remember the phrase: "Me first, then me, and finally me," keeping in mind that one's rights end where another's begin.
Although this writing does not address the essence of each individual, it does tackle the ills that accompany it and often suffocate it, leading to a bland and flat life. This topic will be reserved for the next installment of this section, but what better way to conclude this reading than with a reflection from José Ortega y Gasset: "Among the several possible beings, each man always finds one that is his genuine and authentic being. The voice that calls him to that authentic being is what we call 'vocation.' But most men dedicate themselves to silencing that voice of vocation and refusing to hear it. They create noise within themselves to distract their attention so they do not hear it, and they defraud themselves by replacing their genuine being with a false course of life."
Satoricha ~
References
Godin, S. (2011). La vaca púrpura: Diferénciate para transformar tu negocio. Gestión 2000.
Greene, R. (2020). Maestría. Editorial Oceano de Mexico.
Greene, R., & Elffers, J. (2010). Las 48 leyes del poder (J. Elffers, Ed.). Editorial Atlántida.
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