Personality vs. Individuality

Personality vs. Individuality (Part 2)

Written by Naren on December 1, 2008

Continued from Part 1

Don’t Heed the Unconscious Mass

You should not worry when people make discouraging comments regarding your personality. They don’t know what they are talking about. Once you come to realize that personality is simply a thin layering and nothing more, you won’t be affected by these ignorant remarks. Once you reach an understanding that real growth is possible only when the personality dies, then you are on your way to finding your true essence.

So do not get deceived by the false ideas given to you by the unconscious mass. Do not listen to their tips on how to concentrate on building your personality. It’s a big lie. It is simply a way to stray you from your individuality. Don’t be fooled by these phony people who want to exploit your vulnerabilities. And anyway even if you follow their advice, it would have no effect. You have hundreds of personalities, how many can you strengthen? It’s not possible to keep track of all of them.

Instead, you should realize that your individuality is covered with this thick layer; hence, a great effort must be applied in uncovering all the masks, all the clothing and all the pretentious behaviors. Discard all these things, and one day your individuality will appear on the surface. That day you will regain your true self. That day your inner being will be filled with fragrance and the grace of the tremendously beautiful flower of your individuality.

Personality and Individuality

Personality is external and is a result of many factors such as education, society, upbringing, environment, circumstances etc. It is created by you and is influenced by external factors. Personality can be changed easily. For instance, if I hypnotize you, you will be a different person. You will act totally different. I can thus change your beliefs, ideals and convictions. Also, your personality will be different if you move to a new place. You have to act accordingly to that culture or surrounding. Hence, personality is artificial and changes repeatedly.

But, your individuality is your innate nature. You were born with it. And it remains the same.

For instance, you can domesticate a snake, make it do what you wish; but one day if it gets a chance it will bite you no matter how much milk you have fed it. That is the snake’s true nature; that is its essence, it can’t help it.

No one can take your individuality away from you. It is pure, innocent and extremely beautiful.

Let me provide you one example:

We all know how innocent little children are. They don’t worry about what others say or think. They play on their own accord. They are not bothered with how to present themselves in front of others. They are totally natural because they haven’t yet gathered personalities. But when the child starts growing, he will be imposed with traditions and values. He will be forced to take upon things against his wishes or the surroundings he grows up will influence him. A child cannot revolt against his own parents or society, who has much more power than he is. This is a big obstruction that has been preventing us from finding our individuality, as we have to take up ideas, doctrines, and philosophies, which are simply adding more layers on the crust and nothing more. We are forced to practice a religion without knowing its meaning. We are thrust upon political ideology without knowing its value. Why cannot a child be left alone to blossom in the freedom of his own individuality?

Consequences

Yes, this imposition and poisoning have plagued all societies. The broken family or the disoriented family is bound to arise as a consequence. A son hates his father. A daughter hates her mother, because they are not allowed to be what they wanted. Children are afraid that they are going to be like their parents, but what else they can be. They learned all from their parents. The personality they wear now has descended straight from their parents. Instead of helping a child in his personal and spiritual growth from early childhood, unnecessary values re being forced upon him. The child carries the pain and the burden being inflicted upon him all his life. Hence he has so much hatred when he grows up.

Conclusion

Just two things are required to be meditated upon. One is the understanding that individuality is our essence, and only through it we can gain the true freedom from the imprisonment of personality. The second is that personality is fickle and it can be changed easily. It is simply imposed upon you by others as well as yourself under the influence of external factors. Personality is not real, it is a sheer lie – completely man made nonsense. Just realize this and accept the way you are. In true love, deep acceptance, and pure friendship, personality will fade away by itself -- because personality is simply a mask under which you have kept hidden, to make yourself important in all kinds of situations.

Let me elaborate these three points:

First, in true love, you completely disappear. There will be no ego, self or time. There will be no question of personality to bring conflictsin your life.
Second, in deep acceptance, you are not being touched by others’ opinions, negative judgments, insults, or demoralizing remarks. Once you have learned to accept yourself the way you are, your personality will melt by itself.
Third, in pure friendship, personality has no place whatsoever as you have accepted others without any judgments of way they are. In such state, there will be no clash of egos and personalities.

Personality has its own limitations. It cannot get bigger than its boundary. Hence, if you understand the above three points then you have saved yourself from the disease called personality.

Finally, let’s all endeavor to dig the true gem that’s buried in layers of our masks. Let’s not heed those who lure you with secrets on building a positive and strong personality as they are leading you straight to a ditch. Let’s work hard on finding our true essence, our own individuality, which is our intrinsic nature and bestowed upon us by the existence.

Please go to Previous Page » for Personality vs. Individuality (Part 1)

Found this article interesting and useful? Spiritual Pub offers rich, intelligent, and conscious content on various aspects of life including spirituality, meditation, and consciousness on a weekly basis. Feel free to Subscribe via RSS

Also, if you would like to leave a comment, please contact us. We will be happy to publish the best comments that are relevant to the subject matter.

You can also support us by making a donation as an encouragement.