IndiViDualityJeremy Maddox

Definitions

Individualin di vid u al [in-duh-vij-oo-uh l]⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅

A single human being, as distinguished from a group.

Individualismin di vid u al ism [in-duh-vij-oo-uh-liz-uh m]⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅

The principle or habit of, or belief in independent thought or action. The pursuit of individualism

rather than common or collective interests.

IndiViDuality (Overview): The Good and the Bad

PROS• Have Accepted Themselves

– Act Different (verses societal norms)– Look Different (verses societal norms)– Respected (for the most part)

CONS• Targets of the Society

– The Crowd wants CONFORMITY • Conformity: Action or behavior in correspondence with socially accepted standards,

conventions, rules, or laws)

– Feared (Inner power aka confidence, scares people because you’re unbound, but it also attracts because of its security and stability)

– Outcast (Because society doesn’t know how to categorize you)

CONFORMITY:“The Enemy of the IndiViDual.”

Lil’ Timmie

=• Timothy Ronald Alexander aka Lil’ Timmie

• Middle Class Family• 2 Parent Household

• 3.46 GPA• Lives in the Suburbs

• Attends Apple High Academy

-THIS IS WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE-

Lil’ TimmieStage 1 (College): •Pressured by society and his immediate environment to conform.•(Parties, drugs, condom-less sex, being scene, not being “a punk”, all of the above)

•Thus, the search for identity starts under the wrong motivation.

Stage 2:•Timmie met social pressure before he met himself.

•Timmie has lost his personal identity and uniqueness and has officially conformed.

Where is Lil’ Timmie??

Lil Timmie?

=• Timothy Ronald Alexander aka Lil’ Timmie• At age 20, he has 2 different baby mothers

• Parents kicked him out of their house for good• Dropped out of College• Survives on Welfare

• Can only afford to live in the inner city projects

-THIS IS WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE-

Conformity in Synopsis

“The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by society. If

you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too

high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Have YOU met YOURSELF???

Components of IndiViDuality

-Purpose--Definition of Self-

-Influence-

Purpose• Being an individual starts with having purpose.– Why am I here?– What am I living for?– How do I define my success

“Only when you have purpose, can the meaning of your walk evolve.”

Definition of Self

• Do NOT let society “LABEL” you, DEFINE yourself before accusations start.

• When you are DEFINED, you take the pen away from people who draw conclusions..

Defined: Brand, Legacy, Elite Labeled: Fad, No Legacy, Cheap

Influence

• You will be influenced. There’s no getting around it.

• But……… You CAN choose who influences you.

“You’re five closest friends will determine how you think, feel, and act.” – Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe

Gnarls Barkley “Who Cares”Basically I'm complicated

I have a hard time taking the easy wayI wouldn't call it schizophrenia

But I'll be at least 2 people today

If that's okay

It's deep how you can be so shallowAnd I'm afraid cause I have no fear

And I didn't believe in magicUntil I watched you disappear

I wish you where here

You see, everybody is somebodyBut nobody wants to be themselves

and If I ever wanted to understand meI'll have to talk to someone else

An IndiViDual is…1. One Who is Grounded (Spiritually, and or Ethically)2. One Who is Conscious (SELF Aware, Aware of

Environment, and Aware of Others)We’re constantly being told what other people think we are, and

that’s why it is so important to know yourself.” – Sarah McLachlan

3. One Who Listens4. One Who Possesses the Ability to Create and Express5. One Who Thinks for Themselves

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it” – Aristotle

IndiViDuals You May Know

Resources• I recommend the SDI

(Strength Deployment Inventory) if you want to learn about yourself in depth.

• Myers Briggs Personality Assessment

“A lot of people follow the crowd, but the crowd follows the individual.. Don’t

follow, be followed..” – Jeremy C. Maddox