Seriously, Ditch These Mindsets...
If you want to live an empowered life
My English teacher in school was a nightmare.
I remember the day she told me how bad I was at literacy skills and would never get better.
Her discouragement froze me mentally. For years. I never picked up the guts to express myself.
Though I wrote poems, stories, and plays, I never showed anyone. I was scared of being judged. I was afraid of not getting an acknowledgment.
And so, for the rest of my school years, I believed her criticism to be true.
It wasn’t until college that I realized how wrong she was when I decided to give myself a chance to fail.
I participated in a poetry competition.
And?
I came in third.
It’s a shame that our schooling system and society can negatively impact our lives. Like discouraging through negative criticism, we’re taught to believe so many lies.
And hence, it shaped a wrong idea of the world for the rest of our lives.
I am not a “find-a-scapegoat-soon” kind of a guy and live like a self-victim.
That’s why this article isn’t about blaming society; it’s about spreading awareness and living a self-empowered life.
It’s okay if we’ve learned something wrong — Now is the use our energy and time to change our mindset instead of blaming people, situations, and time.
Here’s what I am challenging my mind to unlearn every day.
#1. Fit In
I was also taught that following society’s way of living is necessary. Or else you’ll be an outcast. You’ll be all alone — deserted and depressed.
This pressure to conform forced me to do things I wasn’t comfortable with.
I often hid my mental pain and faked cheerfulness. I acted in a certain way and said things I didn’t believe. I lived a life of a lie.
Growing up, society taught me there’s just one way to earn money. Work 9–5 like a sheep.
Now, I realize that it’s important to follow your heart in life, even if it means going against the crowd. That’s one of the reasons I chose to become an entrepreneur — live on my terms and NOT fit in.
It’s better to be true to yourself than conform to someone else’s idea of who you should be.
You’re more likely to find success and happiness when you follow your path. When you follow your heart, energy flows freely and propels you to excel.
If you’re feeling pressure to conform to someone else’s standards, remember that it’s OK to be different. You will still find success and happiness by following your path.
Success isn’t what you get; it’s what you feel.
And if you feel successful, then you are.
#2. Get Good Grades
Did your friends ask you about your grades before befriending you?
Did you fall in love after knowing your partner’s academics?
Did your employer ask you your grades before hiring you?
The answer to all of these questions is most likely *no*.
Grades do not define who you are.
They are simply a number that does not even reflect your intelligence, hard work, or passion.
“Get good grades” then transformed into “earn six digits numbers!” Since we don’t have grades to talk about, we judge people by their income.
But, the income you make doesn’t define who you are. It’s not a measure of your abilities. It’s simply a number.
A number can’t be a success metric. It can’t be a measure of how happy you are. It doesn’t define your worth as a person.
Achievements and titles are temporary. Self-worth is permanent. If you love and value people based on the former, you’re living a lie.
Life isn’t a profit-loss statement. Getting good grades, earning ix-figures, or owning a house doesn’t mean anything if you’re unsatisfied.
Society has brainwashed us into believing that tangible and visible accomplishments mean happiness, peace, and fulfillment. While the reality isn’t even close.
#3. Don’t Question Authority
When I was a kid, I was taught never to question authority. This belief caused me to do many things that I later regretted.
For example, I didn’t stand up for myself when elders, teachers, etc., mistreated me. I didn’t speak up when I disagreed with anyone.
I now realize that questioning authority is one of the most important things you can do for your sanity. It’s how you progress as a society, and it’s how you ensure that you’re being treated fairly.
If everyone just blindly followed what they were told, nothing would ever change.
Questioning authority is a good way to get the world braced for a healthy change and challenge those in charge.
For example, it was questioning the U.S. during the Vietnam war that eventually resulted in them withdrawing troops from an unwinnable circumstance.
Questioners are a modern-day checks-and-balances system that forces our leaders to justify their actions and words in contemporary politics.
Last Thoughts
It’s never too late to unlearn some things society taught you — the stuff that gets you down and makes you feel like life is one big struggle.
Which wrong things have you learned? I’d love to know so that I can stop living a lie and live a self-empowered life.
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