Go Against The Herd
Human beings are mentally wired to remain in a herd. That is how we have survived for thousands of years. That is how we evolved into a civilized society. That is how we built our cities and nations. Even our beliefs are shaped on the foundation of our communities. To think beyond the herd—or worse, to go against it—invites ostracization and isolation, both of which are deeply threatening to our sense of existence. Our minds still resist isolation, even when we are surrounded by friends.
The groupism we see in modern civilized societies is a direct extension of this same herd behaviour. We are so intensely wired for it that we now form groups around commonly held opinions instead of forming opinions organically within a group. Sometimes the glue is a shared problem within a community. At other times, it is a common enemy everyone wants to fight.
This groupism and herd behaviour eventually become the basis of religion, as well as patriotism and nationalism. There is no purely logical reason to fall in love with a piece of land unless you begin to see it as your own. You see it as your own because that is where you grew up—with your family, relatives, friends, and community. It is also the land where your ancestors once walked. Over time, the land becomes part of the group, and the group sanctifies the land.
But does it really help when we narrow our focus from country to community? Most of the time, it does not. When groups are formed around shared problems, there is a genuine possibility of solving them. But when groups are formed around a shared enemy, they stop serving any constructive purpose. The only force holding such groups together is shared hatred—and hatred has nothing meaningful to offer except temporary mental stimulation.
The desire to remain part of a group can push you to fear holding contrasting opinions. You begin to worry that if your views do not align with the group’s views, you will be isolated. To avoid that discomfort, you convince yourself that what the group says must be true. This is how groupthink emerges, often giving rise to movements that cause more harm than good. After all, the true test of intelligence lies in how well one can engage with opposing viewpoints.
If you are always part of a herd, you will act like the herd, think like the herd, and eventually become the herd. You cease to be unique. Your worldview narrows because you are forced to see the world through a single lens provided by the group. You begin to hate people simply because you have been told to do so. Instead of forming independent relationships and allowing people to reveal themselves over time, you adopt second-hand opinions based on what your group believes.
There is no harm in being part of a group. It can instill a sense of belonging, usefulness, and companionship. You make friends and rarely feel lonely because there is always a group to rely on. But when a group stops serving that purpose and instead begins dictating what to think and whom to hate, it is time to step away.
The true joy of life lies in meeting new people—discovering what makes them unique, appreciating their distinct personalities, and forming lifelong bonds with a few of them. Remaining trapped in a group that tells you what to think will cut you off from some of the most remarkable people—often misunderstood simply because they refused to conform to herd thinking.