Monday, January 20, 2014

Conformity

Do you still feel pressure of conform?  If no, what age did it stop?

As human beings I think we all feel pressure to conform to a certain extent.  And we should.  In our daily lives we all adhere to certain norms in order to gain acceptance from society.  I get dressed every morning and brush my teeth to conform to what is expected of me as a person.  And if I didn't, I would hurt a lot of people's feelings!  We abide by traffic rules and regulations to ensure the safety of our fellow human beings on the road.  If I drove on the left side of the road tomorrow morning I would be a huge safety hazard to all.  And I would be given the bird by fellow drivers and rightly so!  Conformity is not a bad thing; it all depends on context.  

To turn the table a little on conformity, I no longer feel pressure to conform to others expectations of how I should act.  I am by nature a quiet introvert.  I digest information differently than extroverts do.  I used to question why I couldn't be more talkative or outgoing like my younger sisters.  I think I have embraced my introversion over the past few years.  I am much more comfortable in my skin as an introvert.  In fact, about 30 minutes into my last job interview, my interviewer asked if I was an introvert to which I proudly said yes.  And I got the job!   For all of my fellow introverts out there, I suggest you pick up the acclaimed New York Times bestselling book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Won't Stop Talking  by Susan Cain.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt empowered after reading the stories of other quiet people navigating the often high charged world of work.  Below is a link to the author's website--check it out!

The Power of Introverts- Susan Cain

Fellow bloggers, what do you think about the pressure to conform?  

2 comments:

  1. Yes re the book, from a fellow introvert. It is reassuring to understand the biology behind our distinct behaviors. It also helps me be more tolerant of those annoying extroverts :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed the book and can relate as a fellow introvert!

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