HARMONIZE WITH PEOPLE WHILE MAINTAINING YOUR OWN UNIQUE IDENTITY

To pass information and ideas, scholars employs different methods to relay their intent which are sometimes expressed in form stories or fables.

Today I want to share one of such delightful story.

It goes thus;

Once upon a time a prophet predicted the disappearance of all the water in the world except for only the one saved, stored and hidden. After all the water had disappeared, new water would appear. When drank it would make people mad, insane and they would start to behave strangely in unusual ways. His predictions and prophecy was ignored by people except for only one man who after he heard the prophecy he began to save water in a large reservoir in secret. After a while, the predictions of the prophet became real and all the water in the world did disappeared and the earth experienced the return of new water. He decided not to drink the new water like everyone did, he stayed back in his hidden place drinking only the water from his reservoir.
According to the story the man came out of his hiding and he began relating with people normally as he does before the disappearance of the world water. But these people have been drinking the new water, he found out that these people now behave strangely in an unusual ways. They have all become mad, crazy. These people now become hostile to him, he experienced rejection. He no longer understand them, neither do they accept him. In a period of one week, he could no longer take the suffering, abuse, pain and rejection, so he made up his mind to drink the new water and become like other for him to be accepted. He exchanged his sanity for acceptance in a world of madness.

The above is just a story.

In reality, countless numbers of people around the world are more that ready/willing or are exchanging their entire existence for madness and craziness, just to fit in and be accepted by the crowd. Nothing is wrong with gaining acceptance or finding your place and fit in to the society. As social beings, we can’t exit in isolation. So seeking acceptance and approval of others isn’t a bad thing. But if our entire life or existence is about how to make people think well of us before we can believe or feel good about ourselves then there is an identity problem/crisis which is a product of a lost of identity. Which means we do not know who we are. A dark path to psychological slavery.

To Avoid Identity Crisis;

1. Learn the power to ignore: when you experience rejection from the society so long you are convinced and your conscience justifies you that you are on the right path, ignore the crowd.
2. Maintain your power to fly free: live your life in freedom and as normal as you can, independent and exhibiting self confidence.
3. Maintain your power to personal choice: in life, your choices will either make or mar you. The highest level of power a person can exercise on himself is to control your choices of action, decision or whatever it is in his/her life.