Blue Suit or Pink Hair: Are You a Free Thinker?
I hear people all the time getting upset when they hear someone was discriminated against because of some external style or fashion or grooming choice that person made. These external styling idiosyncrasies that we all have are just that: choices. There are other deeper more permanent characteristics, that while some may seek a way out (Sammy Sosa), they are with us for life. And there’s no real need to go into those for we have no control over them.
But now for my thought. Does having purple hair or wearing bright red tights or a pink suit make you an independent thinker? Or posed another way, what does us wanting to look different have to do with actually being different? After careful study and analysis i.e. writing this, I have come to the personal conclusion that one doesn’t have much to do with the other. In fact, some of the lowest self-esteem owners purposely align themselves with “anti” movements of the world, simply because they want to be associated with something perceived as anti-establishment or anti-conformist, but really are conformists themselves. Conversely, some of the people we can silently judge from afar as being homogenous scaredy-cats are actually free to think and study and muse on many things due to the anonymity their perceived conformity has afforded them.
I think this is one of the Lord’s best ironies at work. The current hipster movement is a readily available example of many young people subscribing to a particular style outwardly but not having done the necessary research to determine the underlying beliefs many of the earliest “hipsters” promulgated. If there was a hipster to hipster conversation, some of the hipsters might not make it out alive!
The same can be said for some religious dress or those who feel the need to outwardly express themselves through exaggerated garb and bombastic speech. Some of these folks are struggling most with their faith, beliefs and attitudes. Whereas, again, some people who are a bit more reserved on certain topics or a certain manner of outward demeanor might be more fortified in their thinking than casual observers would give credit. Critical thinking and original thought both have their roots, in my opinion, in the spirit of curiosity, not the spirit of rebellion, especially just for the sake of rebillion. Although many admirable causes and movements had an overt rebellious flavor to them, these same movements were also born of reflection. Curiosity and reflection are two things we, myself included, can probably do more of. We’re so caught up many times in being individuals that we forget to think for ourselves beforehand. We forget to ask ourselves critical and deep and probing questions, like what do I truly believe, and why?
This maybe could’ve all been summed up by the old adage of not judging a book by its cover but I think it’s a slightly deeper issue than that. Most of us know that we shouldn’t prejudge, and most can share stories of this biting them in the behind, when it is all clear. But the question of whether our quest for individuality has taken a toll on us negatively is something different. My suggestion is to clarify your thoughts and practice asking yourself tough questions. But don’t just stop there, answer them too! My next suggestion is of those tough questions, make sure you analyze at least part of your behavior from time to time, i.e. why do I do certain things in a certain way. This answer alone may be enough to change you. And lastly, ask yourself what sort of image are you looking to portray and what type of image you are actually portraying. Then when it’s all said and done, delete it all from your mind.
A blue suit doesn’t mean you’re a spineless, conformist-conservative and orange lipstick doesn’t make you a free thinker.
Photo Credit: shutterstock.com
Sadiq Ali, MBA, is a speaker, trainer, professor, and author of Millionaire Manners: The Men’s (and Boy’s) Guide to Social Grace in the New Age and founder of Millionaire Manners Academy, a full service educational consulting and training organization that teaches life and career success through great personal and professional etiquette.
