FALLING PREY TO SOCIETAL BELIEF SYSTEMS

In your lifetime, you will reach a point where your thoughts will be overwhelmed with several questions and whether you know it or not some of these will include, What would my family or society think if I chose to pursue this career path or person? How will I reach the standard of living that others admire so that I won't be negatively judged?

Unbeknownst to us, our decisions we make are usually based in fear of judgment or fear of failure. We often expect high expectations of ourselves because society, and relatives often place those high expectations on us. We become self judgmental because we live in a world where society and the people around us are constantly passing judgment on us and others. Even when we are in romantic relationships we often worry about how others will perceive us based on what we choose to tolerate from our partners because society tells us how love and relationships are supposed to be. 

Everyone is different and unique in their own divine right. You didn’t come here to be monogamous, you didn’t come here to be heterosexual, you came here to be our most authentic expression of self. You came here to learn, grow and evolve. As you become increasingly self-sufficient, and confident in yourself and your decision making, the influence of societal paradigms on your life will become non-existent. 

When people evaluate who they want to be, or who they think they should be, or what they want to achieve, it's natural for them to identify with and compare themselves to their contemporaries and utilize societal standards as their guide. These variables influence people because they want to fit in, be like the people they like, do what others do, have what others have, and/or be recognized as relevant and societally important.

It's easy to become more focused on meeting these people's expectations rather than actually focusing on what your wants, and desires truly are. This is how you fall prey to doing things because everyone else expects you to. This is how you fall prey to societal belief systems. It is important to keep in mind that you are not obligated to meet everyone's expectations. The pressure to conform can be strong and difficult to resist, but some people are more inclined to give in than others, while some people are better able to resist and hold their position and remain solid and true to self. 

People who lack self confidence, those who are unsure of themselves, and those who like to follow rather than lead may be more likely to fall prey to societal paradigms. It's not always simple to reject the pressures of society, but once you do, your life will be more enjoyable, and you’ll feel more sure of yourself. You might also be a positive influence on your contemporaries who share these same feelings. Sometimes all it takes is one courageous step forward.