Go beyond your threshold
In 1776, Adam Smith published his books entitled “The Wealth of Nations” which were eye-opening towards of the course of economics which emphasized individual’s power in the market works better without government’s intervention. In the same year, the United States fully gained independence established a government of the people, by the people, and for the people which was against the old belief that country should be run by the monarch. The events in 1776 since have impacted the world. Capitalism and democracy have spread all over the world and they are ones of the evidence that individual person really has the power to do something, to change something, and to improve something.
I know that not all people are gonna buy those stories because of the fact is that capitalism democracy are having alignment with Western culture which individualism is emphasized. They suit well in the society and of course, they might not suit in other societies where different values are emphasized. Capitalism and democracy work pretty well alongside with the Western environment that people have been raised at and the mindset they have adopted since they were born. However, whether you feel good about individualism or not, it is part of maturity. Being individualistic will never be bad as it turns out that this kind of characteristics allows people to think for themselves and be thoughtful in a way of self-consciousness. People who are individualistic are different from people who are selfish. Being selfish means that you don’t only think about yourself, but you also play abuse and cross other people’s boundaries, which can create harm and side effects in term of wellbeing. But being individualistic is what people need to adopt to help themselves overcome the unstable mental state and start to live a life with gratitude.
Most of young people may think being individualistic is a final product. But they’re wrong. It is just a threshold of what being defined as a human. We are social animals who live collectively depending on each other. We have evolved to exist until now not because we are strong but because we have family who stay beside us when we’re down and friends who encourage us when we feel hopeless. Life is beyond yourself. A civilization created was involved all types of individuals coming together to sacrifice and play a role in the story. Maturity is what you need to be a human, but do not stop there. I believe the fulfilling life is when you don’t only think about yourself, but you also start to go beyond the limit and do something good for your community and country.
In the process of growth, the person needs first to find maturity within, and I believe being individualistic is the answer. And then go beyond the threshold with mindset of caring and sharing. Before I end this writing, there is an anonymous quote which I wanna share. “When I was young, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn’t change my nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.”
