Absolute identity v/s fluid identity
Absolute identity
The world wants you to know for sure, what you want to be. Ads, movies, inspiring talking heads.. all want you to 'find yourself'.
You believe in absolute identity. The belief that there is one possible ideal future for you and it is your primary duty to 'find' that future.
The concept of 'finding' is quite alluring. It is not as heavy as the concept of doing or making. It is rife with possibilities. It doesn't kill possibilities. It celebrates the 'potential'. And 'potential' talks to you about the awesome you that no one knows about, but you surely do. 'Potential' stalls your actions, for who do you really need to prove, if not yourself?
And in that sedentary search, you end up doing nothing. So scared of walking in any other direction than 'the one for you', that you would rather 'wait'.
Fluid Identity
Your future is uncertain. Future always is.
What if you stop trying to fight that uncertainty? How would you feel, if you knew that your future identity is not in your hands (to a large extent)? Is that thought perplexing or liberating?
The only variable in your identity that you control is your acts. stuff you do.
Even then, there are a million ways that those acts would be perceived.
Should that bother you? Is inventing a sharp personality for yourself really that important?
Whose perception matters?
The ones you love? the ones you respect? or the ones you merely know of?
shouldn't your primary duty be towards establishing meaningful relationships?
The world wants you to know for sure, what you want to be. Ads, movies, inspiring talking heads.. all want you to 'find yourself'.
You believe in absolute identity. The belief that there is one possible ideal future for you and it is your primary duty to 'find' that future.
The concept of 'finding' is quite alluring. It is not as heavy as the concept of doing or making. It is rife with possibilities. It doesn't kill possibilities. It celebrates the 'potential'. And 'potential' talks to you about the awesome you that no one knows about, but you surely do. 'Potential' stalls your actions, for who do you really need to prove, if not yourself?
And in that sedentary search, you end up doing nothing. So scared of walking in any other direction than 'the one for you', that you would rather 'wait'.
Fluid Identity
Your future is uncertain. Future always is.
What if you stop trying to fight that uncertainty? How would you feel, if you knew that your future identity is not in your hands (to a large extent)? Is that thought perplexing or liberating?
The only variable in your identity that you control is your acts. stuff you do.
Even then, there are a million ways that those acts would be perceived.
Should that bother you? Is inventing a sharp personality for yourself really that important?
Whose perception matters?
The ones you love? the ones you respect? or the ones you merely know of?
shouldn't your primary duty be towards establishing meaningful relationships?
Comments
sure thing. some day.