Hiba Kathawala Week 9: The Invisible Influence
The Invisible Influence
Everyone talks about having control over their own life and actions. But is that really true?
I often feel like I am in control of my choices, my goals, and my decisions but sometimes fail to include how much the actions of others influence my own. The power other people’s choices, and norms, in general, have on our own
life is not talked about enough. It may be that half of the things I do are a direct result of the influence others have on me, for good or for bad.
From which extracurricular activities we take, to the way we behave around others, our society has an invisible grasp on many of us. The hard part comes when we have to decide which influences are beneficial, and which ones are potentially harmful. Is anyone truly their own person, or are they just a result of the society they have been surrounded by, and how strong are our character and values in the face of the much more omnipresent force of expectations?
The power of those around us and our environment is often underestimated.
It can significantly warp our sense of accomplishment, self-worth, and moral perspective.
When slowly, each achievement starts to lose its value in the face of other, better ones you see around you, and instead of viewing yourself through your morals, values, and actions, you see yourself as a list of accomplishments and facts, when does the power of expectations and influence become too overwhelming. When does it overpower your innate beliefs and self-perception?
For example, in school, comparing your academic achievements with your peers can make it more challenging to value your own accomplishments. This can lead to placing too much pressure on yourself and leading to a negative cycle of comparing yourself to others.
The expectations of society and of those around you shape your expectations of yourself. The only way to combat the powerful influence of others, is to recognize it, and truly realize you have a freedom of your own. This is essential to prevent you from viewing yourself as a comparison to others, and rather, as a human with more than the surface level list of accomplishments or failures.
Being able to overcome the power of your environment, and instead focusing on yourself is the best way to take control of your life, and live it to the fullest.
Hi Hiba! First of all, I'm so glad you're in my cohort again since your blogs were amongst my favorites last semester! It seems like this semester will be no different, as I truly related to this post. I think what resonated with me most was your point about comparing your own achievements to those of others, academic or not. I have found myself guilty of doing this time and time again, but my New Year's resolution is to focus on myself and stop worrying about comparisons. Thank you for sharing; I can't wait to read more of your blogs this semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Hiba, your blog was very thought provoking. I do feel as if there are many things which control my goals and actions. Expectations are some of the biggest factors which seem to control me on a daily basis. The internal struggle of wanting to live up to others expectations versus my own is constantly going on in my head. I would say that what others do does not affect me too much, but I would still say there is room for me to grow. Are there any specific ways you avoid judging yourself based on others and their achievements? Personally, I like to think that others have different goals than me, so naturally they would have different achievements.
ReplyDeleteHi Hiba! I'm really happy that you're in my cohort this semester and I'm looking forward to reading all your other blogs. I feel that your piece on the "invisible influence" really ties into the theme of a mysterious power that lurks within all of us yet also presents itself as a characteristic that unconsciously determines our ideals and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI too have been plagued by the sickening nature of visualizing others as a standard of comparison for my own achievements, and letting the words of others pave my own voice. These unrealistic expectations, ideologies, and environments are fostered not only within our academic setting right now, but serve as a lingering power amidst our life that we must steer clear of. It can be easy to catch ourselves as a victim to this system of "control," while also morphing into a perpetrator of this "power" dynamic that we both fear and insinuate.
In your words, it is a necessity to "overcome the power of your environment" and "live life to the fullest." Perhaps the first step is self-realization and acceptance of the invisible influence, the second step being unveiling the influence, and the third step resulting in directing this "influence" to pave a positive outlook on our environment and our life.
Power is nested within all of us, but the way in which we perceive and utilize it is subjective. It is within our hands that we choose to either embrace this influence or rather search within ourselves to find a unique essence that will thrive within the confines of our heart.
Hi Hiba! I relate to your post a lot because I, like everyone, often unintentionally and intentionally end up comparing myself to other people. The questions you bring up, like whether or not we are just products of our environment, are things you can’t help but think about. Especially since we’re in the Bay Area, with so many of our peers worrying about grades and extracurriculars, it’s hard not to get swept up in the wave and “see yourself as a list of accomplishments.” In addition, the way you described the “invisible influence” made it sound as if it were like escaping the Matrix, which I think is a fun and interesting way to think about. Overall, this was a really thought-provoking blog. Great job!
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