This is Part III in my new 5-part series on how less is more in different ways!
Have any of you ever noticed how a certain type of situation tends to make it to the news more frequently in the time following the occurrence of one such epic instance of it?
The most recent example of this phenomena would be the sudden onslaught of cannibalism that suddenly took the world by storm just a few weeks back. One possible explanation for the recurrence of this type of situation could be that humans suddenly came to a realization that human meat is absolutely delicious (though that doesn’t explain how a man would toss his innards at the police). Another might be that the Zombie Apocalypse so many have feared has finally come to pass.
A more likely explanation, though, is a recent observation I’ve made: Journalism tends to magnify issues that are popular, by finding similar events and putting them up in the news in quick succession in order to ride on the wave of readership. As a result, the “importance” of issues is subjected to the relative opinion of journalists – the most popular issues are quickly researched on, and similar ones are found and posted, to the extent of even blowing the issue out of proportion.
Importance, as it is, is relative to popularity.
The question is, could we all then be making a big ado over nothing? Has our sense of importance been co-opted by the opinions of others?
I realized that this seems to be simply part of human nature. Being a social animal, humans tend to follow the pack. Our instinct, then, is to follow the opinion of the majority.
Which is not necessarily always right.
Many times, we are led to make a big ado about certain things that may not be that much important. Some examples?
Money, education, prestige, fame
These are just a few examples of the things that have been made “big” by our society. But are they really that important? Or have we placed that value to it just because everyone else has?
I talked recently about how happiness that is based on having more things is a notion based on loose foundations. Yet, it is the popular opinion in society today. Get Rich Quick, How To Earn More and so on are slogans that would attract almost anyone, and are indeed the prevailing aims and targets of most in society today. Yet, I proposed that long term happiness could only be obtained by doing more for others, by having a Higher Purpose.
This is just one example of a popular notion in society that many uphold and agree with that is not necessarily right. There are many more. Why do people still follow along and go with them anyway?
Well, it definitely is much easier to just go along with whatever others say. My question to you is this: At the end of the day, would you truly believe in what you are doing, or are you just following the crowd?
Do this today: Question more, start to take notice of lesser known opinions, and also begin to form your own opinions. Don’t go along with the “more” for the sake of it – “less” might just be right.