“The world needs more individuality in its men and women. It needs them with the joy of individual freedom in their minds, the fresh blood of honest purpose in their hearts, and the courage of truth in their souls. It needs more people daring to think their own highest thoughts and strong vibrant voices to speak them, not human phonographs mechanically giving forth what someone else has talked into them. The world needs men and women led by the light of truth alone, and as powerless to suppress their highest convictions as Vesuvius to restrain its living fire.
They have the glad inspiring consciousness that they are not mere units on the census list, not weak victims of their own impulses, not human bricks baked into deadly uniformity by conventionality, but themselves—individuals. They are not faint carbon copies of others but strong, bold-print originals,—of themselves. They are ever lights not reflections, voices not echoes. “~ William George Jordan, “The Crown of Individuality”
I wish there were a way for everyone on earth to have a chance to have at least a few experiences outside of the influence of their immediate and extended family, as well as their country. Such times in my adolescence and early adulthood were among the most formative in terms of my present worldview and sense of self.
Cultural, familial and societal imprints and overlays are wonderful in the sense that they ensure a certain measure of continuity, but they are often stifling to the revelation of the individual’s unique pattern of self-expression. Whenever the compulsion to belong overshadows or outweighs the concern to be true to oneself and ultimately to the truth, the individual expression suffers.
This is part of the challenge educators face, as the methods for creating ideal citizens or productive workers frequently short-circuit the individual, separating his true and unique inner self from his outer expression. Rather than magnifying what is already present within the individual, educational systems run the risk of producing “human phonographs” capable of spouting the necessary facts and figures at the appropriate time.
But what of original thought? Is it encouraged? How can we draw it forth more effectively in our schools, churches and family rooms? As a parent of two young boys who will eventually be faced with the responsibility of navigating the world and all of its twists and turns, I am constantly asking myself what I can do to prepare them to meet the unique and increasingly complex challenges of modern living. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions to the matter of individuality, so creativity, imagination and the ability to listen are vital on the part of our parents, caregivers, teachers and leaders!
I look forward to your thoughts…
Gregory Hake 
“Whenever the compulsion to belong overshadows or outweighs the concern to be true to oneself and ultimately to the truth, the individual expression suffers.” This says it all! Your past couple posts have inspired me to be thankful for many opportunities I had while growing up to find my own unique creative expression through the arts specifically. The one thing that fuels my teaching philosophy is the opportunities I had to find my inner voice and passion, because when a child or young adult has that it strengthens them to ride the more unpleasant times of peer, school, family pressures. But the wellfount has to be tapped into. Love this post and all the comments – it is real work as another said, but so joyful and rewarding. To know it for oneself and then make it possible for others to know for themselves is what makes life worth living!
LikeLike
These are pressing questions indeed as the models of education developed during our industrial revolution left alot out of what have been different approaches in the past and now I think we are seeing those deficiencies reach their limit. A greater emphasis on the humanities and arts would be a good place to start, with debate and philosophy taking an integral role as soon as the child begins to reason. Critical thinking skills I feel should naturally be emphasized, to provide the tools for the mind to assess information accurately and form proper conclusions. And how about the study of the cosmos? A shift towards spiritual awareness should easily permeate our outlook in everything. We already have a strong history in these things across the ages and we don’t have to re-invent the wheel.
The issue lies in what I agree to be in what you point out – the natural urge to belong which can get twisted into an unnatural state of homogenized conformity, for where is left the individual? Gone forever is the fierce identity of one who can think for him or herself, able to use their full faculties of reason, intuition and emotion to navigate through life’s challenges. To loosen the conformital grip that culture and family tend to exert, life and study abroad work wonders I would personally attest to, for you are forced to reconcile within yourself another way of living and self-expression, leaving your customs in the minority and so you just can’t fall back on what’s comfortable – you’ve got to be on your toes. You can realize early on that people around the world are different, unique, think differently, but still are people and as a result of all this perhaps we can grow to be citizens of a new world.
LikeLike
As a mother of three girls, this post brings up such a priceless perspective. The educational meat grinder very often stamps out the light of passion in so many creative children who actually have come bearing great gifts for humanity. It has always mattered to me to provide my girls with a variety of experiences, travel, music, languages, and I have had to fight my own tendencies to push them in prefabricated directions based soley on my designs. It is so easy to become an atamaton in the world as it is designed today, it will take courage, thoughtfulness,determination and all out fortitude to be continual lights,being honest to ones own truth. As true character is developed in our youth and we as parents take the stand to provide examples of true “individuality” ourselves and are alert to nurture this is our children children, then our future may be one of incredible light, individuality the norm…..Reflections found only in a mirror. This is possible, not merely an ideal. Thank you for your daily committment to creating a better world.
LikeLike
From my observation, children are naturally original thinkers and given the right climate will become so. We have all listened with delight and surprise as a child recounted his unique “take” on a familiar situation. Yet, there are so many ways to dampen or thwart a child’s individuality. Criticism, dismissiveness, ridicule and disregard come to mind, whether subtle or overt. For many faced with this situation , rebellion has been seen as the road to originality and is sometimes highly prized and cultivated. But there is a high price to rebellion as it will tend to spoil and color the originality that may emerge. I appreciate your introducing this topic as it deserves careful cosideration as to the climate of encouragement needed to allow original thought in children and adults.
LikeLike
The development of the capacity for original thought is enhanced in children as adults realize the child is not here to fulfill the purposes they have recognized for themselves. I guess I think parents should have less investment in what the child thinks and more in helping them develop the capacity to think. The word you used “navigating” is an apt one. Giving children the navigational equipment they’ll need such as an internal compass with an accurate gravitational pull to serving their higher purpose and an understanding of how our equipment is used would be a magnificent start. Teaching our children about what the heart is capable of, how powerful thoughts and feelings are and again what these capacities are capable of creating.
Gregg a gift to your sons could be your series of blog posts on the works of William Jordan. In the spirit helping them to discover, “They are not faint carbon copies of others but strong, bold-print originals,—of themselves. They are ever lights not reflections, voices not echoes.”
I know it has been a gift to me, thank you.
LikeLike
I share your concern for an accurate and solid provision for our young ones, especially in this era. A secure, inviolate surround of love on the one hand and just the right range of challenge and discipline to bring forth the necessary dkills and depth fo character – these are starting points, and our example has never been so crucial.
Each day there are so many opportunities to help or to hinder those who must assume the responsibility for the future – choices to be made, often quiet and unseen preparations. There is much in what you offer today to strenghten resolve and to ignite vision for what is to come.
LikeLike
I think, unfortunately, that individual thought is not usually encouraged. There are a few distinct dialogues that you see spouted in American society, at least. Even in smaller groups, a specific dialogue ofthat group will develop, if they are somewhat cohesive and together long enough. Language, thought patterns, opinions, and discussion topics all become rote; and people fill their roles.
In society, even the “counter culture”, or “rebellious citizens” usually rehash what has been told them by someone else. You very rarely see original thought.
When you find someone that actually does think for themselves, they are usually shunned by the group. They become, consciously or unconsciously, a pariah; daring to think on their own.
If you are not spending real time and energy thinking about the opinions you have and the stances you take on things that are important to you, you are most likely not partaking in true original thought. It takes real work. If your first impulse to a dissenting voice is anger or shunning, think carefully about what you are doing, as that is usually a reaction to an opinion that is not your own and not well thought out. your highest original thought is defensible, because it is yours and you truly understand it. Even if you can’t convince others as to its merits, there would be no need to get angry when others don’t accept it.
True original thought is a rare thing, but it does exist. I think that if we want to make it more prevalent, we need to develop those people who value it and are willing to work to have it. When they have “the joy of individual freedom in their minds, the blood of honest purpose in their hearts, and the courage of truth in their souls”, they will be unable to stop the flow of true original thought from themselves.
LikeLike
Interesting point about being able to spend some time away familial patterns. It’s quite amazing how family and friends (although wonderful to have) can tend to influence your thoughts to quite an extent. I think it is valuable to have some time away as you mentioned as it can give you a chance to really think for yourself and develop the courage of your own convictions.
LikeLike