Our generation is quite a weird and complex one. We have a lot of issues: from figuring out what direction we are going to take in life, to dealing with our ADD and even abandoning fidelity for longer than two months. We have altered society and we have set the tone for many generations to come.
Our biggest hindrance is not our promiscuity or our inability to not expose our lives on social media; it is insecurity. This issue is gender-blind and has manifested itself in more than one aspect of our lives, taking root in nearly every regard. And this is our problem.
People have started to live their lives based in these insecurities. Their true self is what frightens them, which, of course, creates anxiety and makes people feel unworthy. They have begun acting from their insecurities and have not realized their true selves, wearing a mask to be someone or something that others deem satisfying and correct. If you wear a mask your whole life, eventually when you lift that mask -- there will be nothing under it.
Halfhearted dispute aside, we are all insecure and have a huge sense of insecurity that burdens our daily actions the way we live our lives. It makes me wonder, what has caused us to be this insecure? What has caused us to want to fit in so badly? When did we start worrying so much about what others think of us?
It all comes down to our past. Somewhere along the line, we have had few experiences where we were maybe hurt, bullied or seen as an outsider. This youthful trauma has decided to carry over into our adult lives -- which is where it gets dangerous. We have consumed our lives with so much of what others think it should be comprised of that we have forgot who we really are.
Society works against us when it comes to our insecurities. Instead of encouraging individualism, and saying it's okay to be unique, it has tried to turn all of us into the same exact thing: robots. Society wants us to be citizens of our textbooks, and has stripped our creativity.
We have no idea what makes us happy, only what makes others happy. We have been made to believe that our credentials of being an office bitch during a summer internship will look great on our résumé and get us that job we always wanted.
It has set the tone for synchronized living. We all feel the same and do exactly the same stuff, so that we are all constantly on the same levels in life. But this is despairing; we have isolated the individual. When one of us branches away from this way of life, we are seen as an outsider and a non-conformist. Conformity is the biggest villain this generation faces and it stems from our own individual insecurities that drive us to fit in.
We worry that if we go against the wave we're not doing the right things. In reality, going against the pack is actually doing the right thing. Because that is when you begin living your life the way you want, and the way you ought to see it.
That is when your creativity returns and you find the things you love to do, like art, even though you were teased about it when you were younger. This is where you discover your true self and realize that you don't have to do things to appease other people.
If you let your insecurities run your life, you will live a life you hate. This is why depression hits at such an early age, it's an identity crisis. You have spent your whole life trying to make sure you don't miss out on anything, when none of that matters.
Be courageous enough to step away from others and find yourself. You are unique and there is no one else out there like you. Yes, you are special. And when you show others you are truly comfortable in your own skin, they respect you more.
Think to yourself, what is more important: appeasing yourself or others? In the long run, what will matter more to you? Of course, it will be yourself, but until you realize that you won't stop trying to appease others. Worrying about others is poison; you need to be one with yourself.
We make the mistake of comparing ourselves to others and their progress in their life. You do realize that is only going to worsen your insecurity, right?
We all have our own paths and our own choices in life, so you can never base your life on someone else's Instagram account. The more you try to appease others, the less you live. You might as well give up now, if you are going to let your insecurities ruin it for you. There is no pill you can be prescribed or magic wand that can help you; it all comes down to you and your mind.
Be the free spirit that you have in you, stop worrying about what others think. Before they try to judge you, they should try to look at themselves in the mirror and realize how pathetic they are. The people who get far in life and find true happiness are the people who don't try to appease others or worry about fitting in. It's the people who do what they want.
Preston Waters | Elite.
