Individuality

The old American archetype for the rugged individual entailed a mountain man who builds his own log cabin in the wilderness and lives off the land in harmony with Nature. The new archetype seems to be a loner-geek in a suburban garage devising a new IT IPO. In the general population, I see individuality often confused with narcissism. 

Some of the more boorishly narcissistic people, in my opinion, are gangsters, who are never alone and need an audience for every event in their lives. What looks like functional socialization is actually exploitation of the group to bolster an inadequate individual personality. This is not healthy individuality. 

Individuality requires a modicum of intelligence, mixed with a modicum of self-confidence. The person who is secure in his personality, as a result of candid self-development and self-assessment, is not usually antisocial or overbearingly gregarious. The healthy individual readily says "no" as easily as he says "yes" when asked his opinion or support of an ideal or proposal. 

I feel we are currently living in a world of growing conformity. The current pressures of human overpopulation and environmental deterioration may well be behind this in more comfortably developed societies. After all, these societies have the most to lose as those with less, who are the vast human majority, start demanding an equal share of diminished resources. Conformity may well be a natural tendency to cohere in the face of an imminent threat. 

In any case, I feel that individuality in its finest sense is an indication of dedicated personal practice. A group composed of strong individuals, like the Continental Congress which founded the United States, can achieve amazing things. It can also create horrors like the Red and White Terrors which followed the French Revolution. The determining factor may well hinge on the mental health of the individuals who form political or social groups.

Healthy practice builds healthy individuality. As a humanist, my practice is based upon my sense of personal responsibility for my health and the health of my environment. By being healthy, I promote health. My dedicating myself to personal growth and development, I promote growth and development by my example. I do not have to dominate or convince. My individuality is the measure of my practice. Its influence on my environment is a natural process.