When it comes to who we are, what we enjoy and how we do things; we’re often mocked, ridiculed, judged and criticized. Before you know it, you’re adapting who you are and how you do things to conform to the norm and preferences of others. It’s sad really, because bottled up inside each one of us lie great amounts of unique potential anxiously waiting to burst forth!
Just how much do you conform to the culture around you? Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Popular culture can very easily dictate how you should look, what you should wear, how you should speak, what music you should listen to etc.
People & society will always have an opinion about you.(PERIOD) People who are influenced by culture (which is most, by the way) will potentially impose that culture on you, or at the very least attempt to influence you towards adopting it as your own.
Now, before you completely shut me out; I’m not anti-culture, anti-trends or the like. I believe there are healthy cultures one can adopt and there are certainly great fashion trends and music styles out there that would be great if they formed part of your life. The caution however is that we don’t become so consumed by ‘fitting in’ and being molded into something we’re not, that we lose our true identity and just become another average – another sheep following the flock wherever it goes, guided by the voice of the shepherd called culture.
No matter where you live, no matter the cultural influences around you; always remember that you are unique and special, the choice is always yours as to what you will adopt as part of your own culture.
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