Sometimes we are so intrigued by those around us, we fail to take note of what is inside of US. They become what we aspire to be, because we have never actually exposed ourselves to the idea of being individual. Someone different. It's funny how we all hasten towards the idea of being unique, but want to follow trends, wear what everyone is wearing, do what everyone is doing. But what actually drives you?
I came across an interesting video in which the speaker explains 8 different personality types, and I will touch on the last two and the most relevant (I will include the video at the end for those who are interested):
8 - Happiness
Those who pursue happiness. The standard answer any person (especially teenager) will give you when you ask what it is they want to become: "I just want to be happy". But what does it actually take to be happy? I am happy when I am sleeping, I am happy when I am eating, I am happy when I do not have to be studying for mid year exams. Generally, I am happy when there is little or no effort required from me to do anything. Or, it is something I enjoy doing. But think to yourself, are you ALWAYS going to be in a state of happiness? Or, have you ever experienced a point in time when you have just felt happy and nothing else? Probably not. It could have lasted for an hour or two, a day or two, a month or two, but eventually it has to wear down. Happiness is limited, like most things in this world, and so we will never be truly happy, we will always be in search of it, and it will keep leaving us; this is the lowest of pursuits. So instead of putting ourselves through the cycle of experiencing this state, we should try to search for contentment. So that the minute something bad happens to us, we don't go into a state of deep depression and think the world is against us and God hates us. Contentment can be defined as a state of happiness, but it is also a state of acceptance of what is and what has happened, whether it is good or bad. This helps us think more positively and thus act more rationally. Speaking about acting…
7 - Cool
Those who pursue being cool and conforming to the norm. Conforming to those around so that nobody picks them out as being different and then harasses them because of it. We pursue coolness when we are afraid of being the objects of examination by those around us. This is common amongst high schoolers. For example, they have to carefully contemplate the night before what they will be wearing to school, and who is going to say what about it; whether or not they will be made fun of or picked on for donning red shoes with a mustard coloured coat and blue leggings. But this does not only happen to youngsters; grown adults are always competing in some way or another to remain on the "acceptable" side of things, and who gets to decide what is acceptable and what is not baffles me, but it is that unspoken norm that makes you think twice before wearing yellow to a funeral, or your wellingtons that have a picture of Mickey Mouse on it to school when it is raining. When we pursue cool, we pursue acceptance, so we never are really comfortable in our own skins, and we end up changing roles to suit changing environments and people accordingly.
I chose those two to write about because I feel like it is the most common things we pursue; people generally want to be happy and fit in at the same time. Of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be happy; but there must be something more, something else that drives you, something more effective. And that brings me to the ultimate pursuit:
1 – Impact
This can be defined as having some sort of effect that is obvious or being an influence. People who seek to make an impact normally think of what it is they can do to affect the lives of others in a positive way, what they can leave behind and how they will be remembered after they leave the world. If you are someone who seeks to make an impact, your happiness normally comes last (or for some people doesn’t even feature at all). You are a mixture of someone who strives for excellence and results, and at the same time you want to plant seeds that will grow and continue to bear fruits for as long as possible. This kind of pursuit definitely has much more work and effort to put in than happiness, and thus reaps greater benefits, sometimes what we haven’t even been able to perceive.
Which leaves me with a question for you, what is your mark you are going to make? And you definitely have a mark to make; as long as you are alive you have a purpose, and a duty to be of as much benefit as possible to those around you.
Always remember that whatever you are dealing with, discipline, determination and consistency will prove to be great ingredients for a recipe of sure success.
Don’t wait, INITIATE!
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