We live in a civilization of sheep — here’s how to break free.
Sheep Mentality, Seeking understanding & Setting up an environment for innovation
You read the title right; we live in a civilization of sheep.
Yes — sheep.
Don’t get me? Well, I’d like you to ponder upon this question(s):
How many times have you done something just because everyone else was doing it? Do you find that this dialogue runs through your mind a lot — “Oh if everyone’s doing it, then…”?
You probably relate to that on an astronomical level. You look into what other people are doing (like a sheep in its herd — hence the name ‘sheep mentality’ ) and blindly follow that. Most of us do — it’s what makes trends survive and society the way it is. Think fidget spinners, Tickle Me Elmos or even AmongUs [small-scale, harmless examples].
… But is society as we know it really a good thing? Who do we follow and why do we overlook the fact that people can stuff up? Well, buckle up because that’s what we are going to be talking all about in this article!
A quick heads-up before we dive deeper though: No sheep were harmed in the making of this article.
Long story, short: We need to change.
Short answer for the mentioned questions: No. The way society works as of now is an opponent of innovation.
You see, innovation happens in an environment in which new ideas are welcomed, encouraged and looked into. To innovate, you must dare to question the conventional and constantly try to challenge and better the status quo.
Innovation requires the element of curiosity; one can only innovate if there is a problem you are passionate about. The way you find that problem is by questioning it.
Our society is the literal opposite of everything I just mentioned — we follow the herd. We make the status quo work. We accept the conventional because the people all around us are accepting it.
We shut out the very idea of change and tell curious people to quit their “daydreams.”
And sometimes, we believe and follow the incorrect because we see everyone else doing so. A small scale example would be 7-year old Rania changing her answer because everyone else raised their hand supporting another answer (I still remember that happening).
We follow the leaders, those who have self-acceptance and people who aren’t afraid to voice their opinions. This means, we all scramble like a mob around the opinions of a few. This means less ideas, innovations and opinions. Makes sense? No.
Now, the antidote to all this craziness? Understanding.
Seeking understanding is the single biggest way to break free.
To rise above the others, you may have to endure a little bit of laughter, humiliation and maybe even anger but once you start thinking for yourself, you’ll get the sweet benefits of being able to do you without thinking about what “they” will think.
Not to mention, you’ll start to understand the reasoning behind everything. You’ll actually start thinking for yourself.
How do you unlock your potential? How to live by this mindset? Read on for 3 ways to develop understanding and upgrade from a herd-minded sheep to an independent thinker!
1. Mental Triggers are 🔑
You can think of seeking understanding like a habit.
And habits, like anything else, start with conscious acts. So, to build seeking understanding and to literally embed it onto your subconscious mind, a good way to start is by creating mental triggers.
Mental triggers essentially act as a cue that triggers you to activate your habits, or in our case, to seek understanding.
It’s like catching yourself pulling into the magnet of the mob like “Hey, you! Do xyz”. Catching yourself at these points to intentionally think over it will help.
It could be difficult to do this, which is why I practice this in a slightly different way. Every time I’m in doubt on whether I should undertake something or not, I reflect on the pros and cons. But most importantly, I think about whether it makes me happy or is giving me any benefit either immediate or for the future.
My trigger is basically doubt. I take advantage of the way I’m feeling to seek understanding.
With time, I’m now reflecting over most of my actions automatically. This is what you’d want as a result.
When you are developing a trigger, make sure it has these characteristics:
✅ Specific
✅ Actionable (in the next 5 seconds)
✅ Easy to remember and execute
If you are actively trying to rid/add yourself of some habit, mental triggers are highly effective too! Do give it a try!
2. Build and Practice Decision Making Frameworks
Decision making really ties into the previous point.
As aforementioned, my trigger was, in a way, doubt. This would make me think over what I was going to do.
But on what basis do I decide? How do I choose? What should I look for?
These are all important questions to consider. Having a (doubt-based) trigger is of no use if you don’t know how to effectively choose.
This may vary from person to person and the best way to figure out the best for you is to reflect.
I can’t stress enough on how important of a thing reflection is. Just think over everything you do.
Think about your values. Goals. Dreams.
Think about what would make you 1% happier.
Think about the person you want to be and why you aren’t that person yet.
If you’d like, organize this, write it down. And maybe, if you are feeling demotivated, look back at these and remember who you want to be.
Anyway, make sure to sort out all the clutter in your mind and just think over everything for a while. Knowing your principles is the first step to effective decision making.
Speaking of which, decision-making frameworks are super helpful as well. But for the most part, it usually only makes sense if you make it yourself. Incorporate the principles and ideals you value the most in these.
Make it specific to your goals and aspirations by designing it in such a way that your values and principles are prioritized.
I do this by optimizing for the little sweet spot in between investing on my future self and enjoyment. Because when these two intersect, I’m killing two birds with one stone.
Ps. I got this bit from a The Knowledge Society (TKS) podcast. Check it out here.
3. Surround Yourself With The Right People
Ever heard the saying “you are the average of your 5 closest friends.”
I have. And I have experienced how that feels like too.
Surrounding myself with innovators and activators at TKS who were passionate about this mindset gave me a positive environment where I could grow and not be afraid to translate my ideas into reality. Forever thankful for that opportunity ❤
Having squads and friends within the community just means you get accountability + everyone is willing to think of ideas to make sure this system doesn't fail. That seems like an ideal environment…
This is why the key to setting up an environment that favors innovation is the people. If you have everything, but lazy people around you — that's NOT going to favour your growth.
In fact, a lot of the things I do are influenced by the community. Even if they aren't always my friends, just seeing them do cool stuff motivates me.
Even if you don’t have a ‘TKS’, reach out to innovative people online. Join innovative programs (like TKS — referral code: SAHA1111 for additional benefits 😉). Participate in online communities.
With an increasingly digital world, the world is your oyster.
Whatever it may be, make sure to listen to the little voice inside your head. Listen to your values over those of others. Remember that life hasn’t told you to do a specific thing at a specific time; it’s how you take it.
At the same time, make sure to have a thick skin but never a thick head. If your opinion is challenged, stand your ground while listening to your peer but make sure to listen with the right intentions.
It might be tough, but that’s where it gets interesting. You must be willing to stand out before practicing these. Why? Because intentions are all that matters. Do it for yourself and for the right reasons, and the results will come.
If you want to jam out on this or just be friends (pretty please), catch me on my socials — Linkedin | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube. Oh, and while you are at it, stay on the loop with my crazy adventures by subscribing to my personal newsletter! Toodles :)
Oh, and here’s a bit about me:
Hey Hey👋, I’m Rania, a 14 y/o innovator in the Knowledge Society. I’m currently researching alternative protein, extended reality and other exponential technologies. I’d love to connect; reach out to me on any of my social media and let’s be friends!
