Fitting in or standing out
By Hannah Louise van Otterloo - Speech at International ESU Final in London
The emperor was embarrassed but since none of his bystanders were he felt relieved. Yes this is perfect / a beautiful suit he said trying to look comfortable. Your Majesty the people are anxious to see it. The emperor felt doubtful about showing himself in public, but soon abounded all fears. Out on the streets everybody said loud enough for others to hear, look at the Emperor look at his new suit. They all acted as was expected of them, yet one small boy who had no important role and could only see things as the world showed to him. Stepped up to the carriage and said, "but your highness you are naked !"
This young boy spoke his own mind, not that of the crowd. And it is that very individuality that caused everybody to renew their perspective of the situation. To be able to rewire the brain for change we need to start thinking for ourselves and stop following the herd.
From a young age we are all conditioned to follow the crowd the so called herd mentality. Primarily this is a survival instinct as most people and creatures are vulnerable on their own and so it only makes sense to fit in and stick together. This has been occurring since the first people started to form tribes and migrate in groups.
In the Netherlands there are hoards of teenagers desperate to get their hands on products just so that they can fit in. Does the iPhone sound familiar ?
But not only the young feel the pressure the stock market being a classic example of the herd being driven by fear and greed to either get in or get out of the market.
On global issues we also see this herd behavior. We all have our own opinions on Global Warming and that America will be fine with President Obama, but how many of us have made our own opinions based on our own research and knowledge and how many of us have jumped on the bandwagon. Ignorant but happy not to be left behind.
I am standing here today to encourage people to leave the herd behind. And start making informed decisions not blindly following the crowd. Lets start thinking outside the box, start thinking differently, start thinking unconventionally, forming a new perspective. Who wants to be part of a herd when you can be a smart and creative thinker !?
This cannot be difficult for us in the 21st century regardless of your age or status we have constant access to information, we have 24/7 global media coverage, the endless possibilities of the internet. Not to mention books !
Just think what could have been achieved if Galileo had Google, or Columbus had a navigation system, or Ghandi had Twitter.
But all three of these great humans did not have these technology's. We have it at our fingertips, that is why all of us have no excuse what so ever not to be informed, rewire the brain and regenerate our thinking and behavior.
Once the individual has done the research, digested the information and acted on their knowledge, regeneration and renewal can take place. We must keep in mind that information is constantly being updated and so we need to be open minded towards potentional new theories, ideas and knowledge. Even if it means challenging century old believes. Like Galileo who told the powerful church that the world was in fact round and in fact not flat.
Humans can do amazing things when they are well informed and thinking outside the box, we are already on the right track, how would we otherwise have had a presidential campaign with a African American man and a woman.
Back home in my country, The Netherlands we have even made new land rise up from the depths of the sea !
And just think what more lies ahead, with basic human creativity and all this new information, we could have a cure for cancer, customized body parts and maybe even holiday’s on the moon.
But before all this we must have the courage to make up our own minds based on our own knowledge. Stand out of the herd ! Even if this means you have to tell your Emperor he is walking through the streets NAKED.
