Fear.
Control.
It is remarkable how much of life is controlled by fear. We are afraid to step out of our pre-determined boxes and be judged by those around us for not predictably following our reputation. We are afraid to jump in somewhere that we have no experience and pitch in, take charge, do the task. This is true for all ages especially in schools and jobs. Once a reputation is assigned for one quality, even a reputation for disinterested neutrality, any excursions outside of it are fitted as uncharacteristic. A proficient example of this is elementary or junior high school when the teacher yells for silence. Of course, everyone ignores her and continues boisterously until the quietest child in the class screams for silence. Everyone is so surprised, they hush instantly. Nothing changed in their desires to continue the conversation. When the expectations of someone we assume to understand rather well does that unexpected thing, surprise abounds. To avoid that unwanted attention, many of us simply conform to that expected box of our personalities that is affectionately known as a "mask." Our fear of doing the unexpected controls our actions, and we become a stranger even to ourselves.
This problem is compounded when physically near people more familiar with your habits. The times I have been most uncharacteristic is around people I have never met and run little chance of seeing again. This is also true for my friends. If they meet someone I am acquainted with, they might have acted completely unlike the behavior I expect.
Historically, many people have had little choice in their daily conduct. The goats need milked, the irrigation canals need cleaned out, firewood needs stacked, and when the work is done, exhaustion forces sleep. In modern times governmental power enforced rigorous conduct laws on citizens. Despite this constant management of both human and physical resources, people eventually took the courage in hand to resist and choose their own desires. The Prague Spring of 1968 revealed the resentment against the United Soviet Socialist Republic in the surrounding puppet nations. This rebellion occurred at the height of Soviet influence, wealth, and military might. The people still opposed.
Political rebellions reveal the instability of a government. No longer can the law be credibly enforced. The masses arise with bitterness at the mistreatment for an actual or imaginary wrong, and the rebellion is crushed or a civil war breaks out. Ancient Egypt successfully rebelled against the Persian empire's invasion and reestablished native control and religion for a generation. The Greeks defeated Persian advances twice. France successfully repelled British land claims after more than a century of war. America overthrew their perceived oppressors in the British monarchy. Britain resisted Nazi advances and remained unconquered.
History invariably reveals the desires of a people. With America's social stigmas of nicely situated boxes and divisions, personalities and interests are farmed for cooperation in the work place and monetary expenditures. But if history has taught anything, it is better to resist these outside influences.
Be yourself. Choose the option most suited to your interests and desires. Don't let your social stereotype paint you into a box that poorly fits your personality and talents. Don't fear the judgement of complete strangers. I have a tendency to act like the people around me. The more time I spend with a single person, the more like them I become. Sometimes this is good; often it is unsatisfying. Be who you want to be. Act as you see right - not because it is expected but because you honestly are that way. Go about the life you wish to lead without apprehension of the dictator in the public society around you. Just smile, say your greeting, and get doing what needs done!
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Agatha Tyche
