Good thing you chose to hear my story.
Read till the end for the credits.
But before you rush down, grasp this old chestnut.
A woman regularly prepares ham for dinner by cutting off both ends. Her bewildered husband asks why she did so. She replies, “That’s how my mom cooked it.” Well, by coincidence, her mom was coming for dinner that night. So they asked her why she cut off the ends of the ham. Mom, mirroring her daughter’s response, replied, “That’s how my mom cooked it.” So with the awkwardness looming in the air, they decide to call Grandma on the phone and ask why she cut off the ends of the ham. Her shocking answer was, “Because my pan was too small!
Now, hear me out...
Mindless vs. Mindful Behaviors
confession time
I once forced open my door on a bright Friday morning like a sleep-deprived hand puppet after a knock on the door had sent my brain into overdrive.
Now, I would normally peek through the blinds like any thoughtful thief, but this time, I was overwhelmed by both annoyance and enthusiasm. (terrible mix)
BA AAM…There I was, and standing before me were two smiling faces from the proverbial “first century Christians” (a.k.a. Jehovah’s Witnesses).
Now, I mean no disrespect for certain, but at that moment, my brain picked up the pace, transforming into a frantic excuse generating machine. Why? Because before this grand appearance, I was happily tucked away, sending out a working draft. So much for a productive morning, I guess!
With Their voices Sounding like the entrance hymn of a Catholic church choir, as they began.
“Hello, good morni…. ”I’m swamped; sorry, no time!”.
I blurted out fast before they could finish their unwanted rhyme, disappearing faster than a magician’s handkerchief. Still, they never failed to leave behind a souvenir, oozing a lingering sense of guilt and a feeling of rudeness.
Discovering Personal Values
For a moment, I felt a thrill of victory as they left, but then came the introspection. Why did I give away a knee-jerk reaction? Was it just following the “shoo them away’’ or “never engage with them” script without questioning its relevance? Maybe, But…
The answer, it dawned on me later, was simple: I followed the “polite dismissive door-answering pattern” without thinking for myself. A cultural norm deeply ingrained, even though it doesn’t always serve us. I then came to realize, with a slight spark of humor, that i was too old for that sh*t, not overcoming mindless acceptance.
Now, as you may not know, I’m keen to put this out there, that under normal circumstances, I display a sense of curiosity, and through self-awareness practices, share thoughts on topical issues and happenings, whereas, in this instance, I was simply too lazy to carry out due assessment. And like you know, analogous to that lady who cuts off ham on both sides for no reason. I was blindly following a pattern (shame).
But on the bright side, that weird encounter transformed from a feeling of shame to a self-enlightenment journey, which ultimately led me to delve deeper, research, discover personal values, and form my own opinions not just about such visits but other situations and how to approach them with clarity, even a touch of humor. (Because, hey, laughter is the best medicine, right?).
Now, look here. I’m not just talking about awkward door encounters; I’m talking about cultural norms and individual choices. This blind acceptance of trends, traditions, and practices seeps through our lives. We wear certain clothes because “that’s what’s in,” eat certain foods because “everyone’s doing it,” and follow certain rituals without understanding its origin or purpose.
What if we asked, “Why?” What if we embraced conscious decision-making instead of mindless acceptance?
Do this whenever you are in such a situation. Take a pause and ask yourself:
· How did this practice start? Is it a relic of the past, or does it still hold meaning?
· How does it align with my values and beliefs? Or am I blindly following the crowd?
· How can I adapt it to fit my life?
I call them “the three-way hack” to breaking societal norms.
Now, here is the beauty of Challenging Societal Expectations and why I preach it :
· The big “why”: get rid of the autopilot mode, take your time, and burrow deep into the history, the basis for the linear practice. You might uncover fascinating cultural variations or perhaps give the outdated tradition a system boot.
· Unlock your Indiana Jones: Become a detective if you like. Research, ask questions, and piece together the puzzle to decipher whether it is a practical solution that has gone obsolete or a cultural representation that has lost its relevance. You may find something fascinating.
· Remix the Ritual: Do not fret about rewriting the script. Maybe a tradition can be reinvented, and you can adapt it to your values. Maybe there’s a healthy twist to the family recipe, a reason you should never answer the knock on the door or a reason not to wear your jeans six inches below the waist. (Hehe)
So, ditch the mindless acceptance! Imbibe the habit of making conscious choices that serve lifetime value.
Ask questions, challenge the norm, and forge a meaningful path for yourself. Remember, challenging societal norms or patterns isn’t rebellion against them. It only helps you claim your life’s narrative.
So, whenever the proverbial dilemma comes knocking, remember: a polite and thoughtful inquiry, a "yes, please” or “not today, thanks,” is perfectly acceptable, especially if you’re busy changing the world!
P.S. This is an opinion-based post featuring my anecdote that permeates the idea of conscious decision-making versus mindless acceptance.
As per usual,
See you in the next one.
This link https://ko-fi.com/paulo07 is only for the kindhearted to support my work if at least my story made you chuckle. Haha
I hate naming names, but a special heartfelt thanks to all my medium friends, (not followers, but friends) who have deemed my writing journey worthy of support since the beginning.
BestAntBest Darrin Atkins Daily Rants AnmutigeMama Daria Malinova Neha Sahay Amy Potter Wild River William Annina Berweger Serenity Beats Daily Blogs Kamal O. Touhami Rustam Seerat Sarah S Freia Skogstad Mike Butler John Loewen, PhD Msfireballsmom Paul Is Positive SALAH -F LunarLinguist My Journey & Discovery — Still learning yourgoalsyourgains Amethystah Love Isabel Loução Roxy Writer Richard Overton Words eff Hutchings Jeff Russell Manya Arora Mark J. Shady Sam Letterwood Ali Alzahrani, M.Sc., Editor yahya alshraa S.a.n.a.h Floyd Mori Venkat Pragada: Engaging Minds, Empowering Ideas
