The Need To Define Oneself
As time passes, I realize more and more that identity-formation is a personal matter. One can proclaim whatever external category they belong to, but that is a shell of what they are. The real virtue resides within.
People let themselves be defined by what they do and what they say, when that isn’t necessarily telling the whole story. Therefore, ‘defining oneself’ is a significant decision, since it dislodges the passive implication of ‘being defined’. Nonconformity is at the base of this act, embodying a meaningful sense of ‘defiance’ to the complacency of the mass world.
Heroism becomes a revolutionary act when indifference is widespread. Nothing matters more than a desire to express oneself despite their personal shortcomings, and nothing speaks louder than brave actions.
For it seems, as time passes, that more and more of our enjoyment of life becomes dependent on survivalism. Work and struggle become entrenched, ego gets involved, and a higher meaning of life, or teleology, can only be grasped in our own liberation from ourselves. Even politics is a way of becoming lost in wasted energy. It encompasses class, race, and gender, all of which become metrics of division and criticism. In turn, people turn to blaming each other, a ‘herd-vs-herd’, wherein nothing could happen but more chaos.
There is nothing to be gained by fighting against each other.
The notion of being able to define oneself has become necessary for ensuring some sense of meaning in our existence. It seems right to say that people are governed by very controlling forces, such as the money system, sociopolitical tensions, and even outright gaslighting. Therefore, it is of fundamental importance for us to realize what we are capable of, and the first step lies in defining ourselves. We must fight for our lives.
A freeperson is not meant to submit to the will of others. Their will only belongs to God, or some equally significant principle. Yes, it is good to improve one’s own condition, but shouldn’t we ultimately be concerned about EVERYONE’S CONDITION? A person is in no position to liberate others if they have not set clear lines for their own self-determination. But it is no better if a person, in their process of determining themselves, ends up hurting themselves and others.
Let us not waste any more energy on the cruelty of vices. There is so much to be done and no time to do it. Let us always remember that heroes come in a time of need. They do not simply appear without good reason. It is a good time for us to properly define ourselves, so we could become heroes too.
Thank you.
