What is Wrong with “Me, Me, Me”
Editorial by Nicholas Pediaditakis, MD, DLFAPA
Each culture does influence the individual. He lives in, specifically, their inborn temperament in addition to the influence they receive from the upbringing from their own family and immediate surroundings. Our own culture tends to promote individuals by favoring their autonomy, self reliance, and “being to themselves.” It promotes the Individualistic, and I will say self-centered and selfish aspects of human nature. Such influence has its advantages. Individuals from our culture tend to be creative, self-reliant, and enduring.
Unfortunately, the culture tends to over-do it. Many Individuals in our culture may be — along with all the advantages — isolated, suspicious of each other, and antagonistic (besides the creative competitiveness). They often may have troubled relationships — especially with their chosen partner in terms of loyalty, stability, and comfort with each other.
In our culture, we tend to divorce too often, we complain too often, we tend to be irritable and “ready for a fight” too often. We’re contentious and often ungracious to each other. All are the price to pay for the advantages. We really do need a little more grace, generosity, cooperative spirit, and an “easy does it” attitude with each other. Sounds like the teachings of a preacher from the pulpit; but, it happens to be true psychologically and they are the mentioned price we have to pay for our self reliance and creativity. It is real.
As a society, arguably many of us may not be the happiest people in the world, with each other unnecessary . Other cultures do it differently, say, the Chinese, with more of an attitude of groupings and cooperation, and an eagerness to contribute for the common good; though such cultures may end up not as creative as we are and have more the herd instinct. After all, human beings are a mixture in their nature and therefore in conflict with with different components of ours – and true balance is very difficult to accomplish.
The various teachings of various religious try to correct these defects, They want us really to be kind with each other. After all, the Creator does not need very much worshiping, since He is already the Creator! What he most probably expects from us is to be more contributory and helpful to each other. Otherwise we end up lonely, grouchy, irritable, secretive, and often even “paranoid with each other” — with high blood pressure to boot.
When you have a little time alone, please contemplate all of these you may feel a little easier with yourself and others.
Copyright © 2016 by Nicholas Pediaditakis, MD
For more information on Dr. Pediaditakis and his Raleigh NC mental health clinic, visit his Facebook page.
Dr. Nicholas’ blog may be read at chroniclersofthesoul.com.
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