What is the best way of expressing our unique identity?
Question from the Internet:
“Why is identity the central question in life these days? Has it always been like this? Would it not be simpler just to be?”
Our actual “matter” and driving force is our unique, 100% self-serving, self-justifying, proudly and fiercely individualistic ego. And this ego has been exponentially growing and intensifying through history, reaching its peak in our generation.
This is why “individual freedom” and “individual rights” is a hot topic today; each wants to express their unique individuality regardless of the consequences or conditions.
This is fine overall, especially since this need and inclination are imprinted into our DNA. Trying to suppress or erase one’s individual uniqueness only invites a violent rebound reaction.
The problem is that at the same time our ego reached its peak strength, we also evolved into a globally integrated and totally interdependent system where we have become like single cells of a closed, living organism. And in this closed, living human “super-organism” — which is also an integral part of Nature’s integrated system — life depends on each individual part to dedicate its existence to the well-being and most optimal development of the whole.
Which is actually supporting our aspiration for expressing our individual uniqueness. In truth, by ourselves, we have nothing to express. As “standalone” individuals, we do not even know who we are and our purpose. Even when we stubbornly hold onto our independence, maintaining that we want to do whatever we want, we define ourselves through constant comparisons to others, and we are all the product of the environment we exist in.
And without a human environment encapsulating us, we would regress to become mindless animals.
Thus in order to truly learn and accept who we are and, what our individual uniqueness is, what our irreplaceable role and purpose are, we have to find and fulfil our most optimal, mutually responsible and mutually complementing role and function on the above-mentioned human “super-organism”.