The dangers of conformiy

Conformity is that jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth. ~John F. Kennedy

There have been many times that I succumbed to the less risky business of conformity —of fitting in. Because it's hard to stay solitary in the midst of a culture of indifference to life's deeper meaning and higher purpose. And it's easier to get stuck in the dark not knowing when or where life will be better, that is, in our own definitions of "better"...

The thing with conformity is that it makes us "common", a prosaic member of "everyone", instead of being among the meaningful few. So, what gives?

You can never please everyone. Sure, you can fit in, be accepted, be noticed by everyone, but only for awhile. Because "everyone" has but fickle interests that can go as quickly as it came. You just can't expect commitment from everyone.

Your best will not always be everyone's best. It doesn't always mean that if it's popular with everyone, should be acceptable with you, too. Really, very few things need to be acceptable by everyone. Don't settle.

You can't do everything and be very very good at it. Just because everyone is into it, you have to, also, even to just be mediocre at it. You have to stick it with your own thing —be really, really good at it. That's what matters. That's more valuable.

You can't stick your nose where it doesn't belong and get away with it clean. Be with a few who cares about what you do and are willing to listen to what you have to say. Because the only thing nosy people have in common is that they are very common. And they can be everyone else's.

Well, I don't know about you, but I go with the truth of Steve Job's words, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."