#7 Embrace Mindful Independence
Priceless inspirations from Chuang Tzu: How to cultivate independence of mind and achieve true freedom in a world of conformity.
In the era of (dis) information, the scarcity of discernment and independence of mind has elevated their value to unprecedented levels. A single misjudged decision, influenced by emotions and a lack of thorough understanding, can unleash a cascade of disasters and incalculable consequences.
Cultivating an independent mind is crucial because our decisions are often swayed by emotions and feelings. Our inherent nature predisposes us to seek patterns and regularities, leading us to behave in predictable ways due to our unconscious attachments and ingrained routines. To foster independence, we must first confront the challenge of questioning the behavior and thinking patterns we've clung to for years.
Let’s examine this point with an example. Imagine your friend excitedly shares his plan to open a bubble tea shop in a specific neighborhood. He's done some due diligence research and believes this small business venture will help him make another half a million dollars in a few years, probably sooner. He's already envisioning a future where this business idea becomes a solid pipeline of cash flow, even before taking the first step into the business world.
As a loyal friend, you are skeptical of your friend’s business plan. So, you dig this deeper to find out if this is a viable investment. To your surprise, you discover that the district has faced difficulties attracting businesses due to a new government infrastructure plan, which means that the exact date of construction completion and the types of businesses that will be popular are not guaranteed. To make it worse, when you walk around the neighborhood, there are already a few bubble tea shops near a local residential area and a school, meaning that most customer traffic will be centered there.
Can you dissuade him from this seemingly doomed business strategy you could employ? It's a formidable task, as he's already deeply invested in the plan and emotionally attached to all his preparations. He might even argue that his past business successes and confidence in his abilities make this venture a sure win.
In this circumstance, it is challenging for you to persuade him to listen to the clear voice inside his head, let alone your advice and suggestions.
Whether it is personal relationships, business operations, or the fear of missing out (FOMO) behavior in investment, we are constantly being tested regarding forming independent judgments and decisions, particularly when our emotions and attachments are involved.
The challenge of conformity
Political behavior is a perfect example of why independence of mind is a mental gatekeeper of sanity. On a fundamental level, family upbringing, socialization, and education can contribute but also cloud our political judgment.
In essence, how we evaluate political phenomena, public policies, current affairs trends, and macro-political trends is significantly influenced by specific analytical lenses and perspectives. These narratives are the outcomes of conceptual and moral order from which we derive the meaning of existence.
Thus, it is no surprise that the political sphere is a great place to observe herd behavior and conformity. We assume that what is mainstream is naturally correct, justifiable, and defensible.
But we do not ask further: Are the majority necessarily correct? Why do we give up rational thinking when positioned in a mass crowd? Why do we somehow feel more powerful, righteous, and unstoppable as members of a large group? Is it not strange that the fear of being cast out from a social group can be more compelling than standing up for ourselves (our individuality), particularly if we have contrarian views on political and social matters?
The psychological divide between us and them shapes all aspects of life. Considering that life is a composition of continuous small decisions, and what we choose can shape who we eventually become and the life we can live, no thinking person would accept the reality that their life is influenced and determined by that invisible force from society.
Against the currents
In 164, Emperor Huan of Han made an imperial visit to Yunmeng (in modern Hubei), and a large crowd from the city went to see the emperor. A senior man from Hanyin continued to work in the field without being bothered about the events in the town. He got the attention of a member of the imperial entourage, who asked the old man why he was not interested in joining others to look at the emperor. The old man replied,
May I ask: What is our purpose in establishing the Son of Heaven? To bring order to the world? Or to bring chaos to it? Do we establish the Son of Heaven with the hope that he would treat us with paternal love? Or must we enslave the whole world in order to provide the needs of the Son of Heaven? Formerly, the sage-kings, in governing the world, had only thatched huts for shelter. Nevertheless, the people lived in peace. Now, look at your ruler. He forces the people to work hard so that he can live in self-indulgence and enjoy leisurely trips without limit. I am ashamed for you. Yet you have the nerve to ask me to look up to him with reverence.1
