The answer to the loss of sovereignty that each of us faces lies within each individual as we all decide what it will take to change our individual enslavement to social conditioning. The answer to freedom is unique to us all as we choose our own way to sovereignty. Shedding light on how we have all been conditioned to become a herd of complacent sheep will further help you find your own reasons for changing the conditioned patterns in your life.
What is the cause of our habitual thoughts and behaviors that have kept us trapped in the status quo inhibiting our ability to do what we feel is okay? Social conditioning is the shaping of the collective biases, beliefs and behaviors that are shared among a group of individuals as a whole. It is the instinctive qualities of the individual reacting to the emotions and behaviors of the herd. It is the herd mentality that shapes our perceptions, reasons and beliefs. It is a very natural and vital component to the survival of a primitive species. We feel safe in its irresponsible brashness, and at the same time fear the consequences of exile from this self correcting, collective consciousness.
The shaping of beliefs starts when we are babies. We learn from others how to be and how to act and eventually how to think. What begins as a learning process of imitation is vital for learning language, emotions and physical expression; but when the imitation becomes habitual it becomes mimicry. Mimicking what others do out of habit, fear of ridicule and lack of free thought is what has turned the world into a flock of sheep.
There are many reasons we chose to imitate other people, but all the reasons have one thing in common; imitating someone else must have a benefit. Some reasons for imitating are silly and some are valiant, but each person imitates another because there is a perceived value to acting like someone else. The advantages could be for self esteem, personal satisfaction, or self preservation, but the reality is that everyone who imitates someone else is never being themselves. Pretending to be like someone else always comes down to a deep seated need to survive whether it is to socially fit in, avoid pain or gain wealth and power.
If imitating someone helps you achieve your goals and adheres to your personal values, then imitation can be a valuable tool for achieving success; but all too often this is not the case. Most people pretend to be like other people to increase their self-esteem by adopting the ideals and mannerisms of other people. Just who do the majority of us imitate if the goal is self-preservation and an upgraded social status? The group that is imitated can be categorized by their high level of social status, and it can include anyone that is well respected in a certain community or has a lot of money and fame. Even if imitation of these social propagates is indirect, we are repeating norms from someone who is directly duplicating the socially adept. One way or another, we are indirectly repeating styles, ideas, biases, beliefs and behaviors. So we can say that most if not all of our thoughts, words and actions are not unique or original to our own selves.
Your only hope is the conscious reprogramming of your thoughts and beliefs and becoming a person who is truly unique and original. The answer is unique to you and it lies within as you pinpoint which aspects of yourself are not your own and do not serve your goals or values.
Kristen Kennington 