{"id":1499,"date":"2008-09-22T22:34:28","date_gmt":"2008-09-23T04:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ocbenji.com\/blog\/?p=1499"},"modified":"2008-12-14T00:20:42","modified_gmt":"2008-12-14T06:20:42","slug":"don%e2%80%99t-be-a-sellout-a-guide-to-staying-real","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ocbenji.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/22\/don%e2%80%99t-be-a-sellout-a-guide-to-staying-real\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t be a Sellout: A Guide to Staying Real"},"content":{"rendered":"

Being true to yourself is not easy. In magazines, we\u2019re shown images of flawless airbrushed bodies. Luxury and celebrity lifestyles are worshipped. In our culture we\u2019re judged for what we own and what we do. Not who we are.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to remain true to yourself when our culture encourages competition. I don\u2019t think competition is a bad thing necessarily. Our economy\u2019s livelihood depends on it. The problem is we define everyone as winners or losers. He\u2019s a janitor, he must be a loser<\/em>. She\u2019s a fortune 500 executive, she must be a winner<\/em>.<\/p>\n

We judge people based on their outward appearances, the cars they drive and the restaurants they frequent. Have you ever been nervous to approach a person because they have a more important title than you? Have you ever avoided someone because they looked homeless?<\/p>\n

Judging others based on their appearances and job titles is kind of inevitable though, as backwards as it may be. After all, it\u2019s the first thing we see, and the first thing we hear. But I think we abuse this system.<\/p>\n

In a perfect world, we would judge people based on the contents of their character (or not judging at all, for that matter). I think the more we practice doing this, the more comfortable we become with ourselves. The more we accept ourselves, the more we accept others as well.<\/p>\n

Because the truth is, the level of your happiness is exactly proportional to the amount you\u2019ve sold yourself out. The amount of contentment you experience is directly related to how authentically you\u2019re living.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

This is a guest post from the always insightful illuminated mind<\/a><\/h3>\n

The main source of this problem is:<\/p>\n

The Domestication of Humans<\/h1>\n

When we are born, we\u2019re completely authentic. We\u2019re wild. We think, but not in symbols (words). We know what\u2019s right and wrong, but it\u2019s not based on knowledge. It\u2019s based on our integrity.<\/p>\n

As we grow up, we\u2019re taught (through language) what\u2019s right and what\u2019s wrong. What\u2019s acceptable and what isn\u2019t. We start to think of the world in symbols. Instead of experiencing life directly, we have series of thoughts and judgments about it. Thinking is essential to our success as humans and much of our lives depend on it. It\u2019s allowed us to build cities, create technology and all sorts of conveniences.<\/p>\n

The problem with thinking in symbols, is we judge everything. We judge ourselves. We judge the things we do right and the things we do wrong. We start to want everything we do to be right, so we create an image of perfection.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve Sold Ourselves Out to Knowledge<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve talked here before about the importance of not taking things personally. That\u2019s because what other people do isn\u2019t about you, it\u2019s about them. Well, in the same way, if you want to regain your authenticity, you have to not take your thoughts personally. You have to stop identifying with your thoughts. Because your thoughts are not you. Your spirit is not an idea or a concept.<\/p>\n

Sometimes to stay true to yourself you have to<\/strong>:<\/p>\n