The Power Of Individuality
When I was 19, I served as a missionary for my church. I had a missionary companion that I didn’t get along well with. We had many differences and disagreements. His attitude at the time came across very arrogant and superior. He felt he was always right. He was the lead and if I questioned anything I was definitely in the wrong. The message I got from him was I needed to mirror him in every way possible. One day we got on a discussion about God and the concept of being “Christlike”. His perspective was that in order to follow Christ and be Christlike we had to give up our own individuality. We had to be like him in every single way. This idea didn’t sit well with me, so I reduced it down almost to the point of absurdity.
I asked him if that meant in order to be Christlike we had to have the same favourite food Jesus did, and the same favourite song. His answer was yes, that’s what it meant. When I asked him about individuality and personal preferences, he basically replied we needed to get over those. Individuality meant nothing to him. Each of us are individuals. We all have different experiences, goals, likes, dislikes, and interests. Individuality is essential to both empowerment and happiness for individuals and progress as a society.
Individuality For The Individual
The role individuality plays in individual people being happy and feeling empowered is fairly apparent to most people. Each of us is different. Our differences start with our genetics, for example the colour of our hair or skin and whether we are biologically male or female. Some people are born into a home situation with one parent, some have two. Religious upbringing varies. Some children are raised in a wealthy home, some in poverty. We could go on and list even more differences.
To expect everyone to have the same thoughts, feelings, habits, or preferences is unreasonable. This expectation can only be supported by oppression. Only by taking away choices and forcing repression on people could someone even come close. Such repression is hurtful and harmful to people. When people experience repression, they tend to be resentful, angry, and depressed. These are not healthy things for people to feel. When people feel this way, they are more likely to act violently, whether in homicide or suicide. Abuse, self harm, antisocial behaviours, all of these things and more are more prevalent when people are repressed and forced to try to fit into a mandated mold.
On the other hand, when individual differences are respected, let alone celebrated, people feel accepted and empowered. Love and appreciation bring forth positive behaviours. When people are allowed to be themselves, when they are loved and accepted and empowered, they are much more likely to reach their potential and be as happy as they can be.
Individuality and Society
In previous eras, because most people lived at or very near the subsistence level, staying alive was the main focus in life. In the last several hundred years though society has advanced. No longer was everyone focused on staying alive. People had the opportunity to branch out and different occupations flourished. Creative people now had the opportunity to find patrons and spend their days writing, painting, sculpting, inventing, and flourishing.
Not only was there more diversity in how people were able to make a living, but this also allowed for more diversity of thought. As diversity of thought spread, systems were challenged. Religious schisms occurred and other faith systems were blended. Political and economic systems changed as well. People went from being serfs to citizens.
As ideas and systems spread, so did people. As people, cultures, religious, customs, and various ideas spread, it can be uncomfortable. Generally speaking, many people fear change and differences. However, over time, groups have blended together and it has been to the benefit of all.
American society has progressed far from the monolithic group of pilgrims many of us think about when we think of the first permanent European settlers. The lives we live today would be full of wonder because of all the advances we have made. However, it is possible, modern American society would be a horrific thing to them as well. Today we have so much diversity of thought, opinion, religion, and political thinking, just to name a few areas of diversity. Each of us is allowed to be an individual, and because of that freedom, society has progressed so much.
Individuality In Modern America
In the last few hundred years, people have had more opportunity and freedom to be themselves than ever before. Society has grown and progressed in ways that would be inconceivable to people of the past. In so many ways, society and individual lives are better than they used to be. Without the opportunity for people to be individuals, to seek after their own preferences, and to build their own lives, this advancement would not have happened.
Individuality is essential to personal happiness and empowerment. It is also an essential part of societal advancement. Thank you to all who embrace the power of individuality.
Garrett Leeds is the founder of the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness Project
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