Are we becoming a society that seems to have given up on a true self-sovereign form of self-reliance, whilst at the same time excusing the absence of self-control in their lives?
Ralph Waldo Emerson captures this sentiment, writing: “Unless we overtake ourselves, circumstances will overtake us.”
The psychology of self-control does show that people are more inclined to change addiction habits when they reach out to a community resource to hold them accountable, same applies to the fact that participants are more likely to stick to an exercise program for longer when they commit to a group activity.
Another aspect of self-control that many 12-step self-help programs are organized around is that of changing your circumstance rather than building willpower.
Communal or any shared dependence, can be a success principle, in the case of healthy self-reliance,
The science behind this is subtle, but it helps to differentiate the understanding between self-control, self-reliance and self-sovereignty.
What breaks a resolution is a strong temptation. To fight temptations we need willpower, which is prone to fatigue.
As far as will power goes, better solutions are to remove or lessen temptation in the first instance.
That means as a self-sovereign thinker you’re unlikely to feel the pull of giving up on your resolutions, and relying on others to support you when you falter, if you understand the environmental temptations and what alternatives are available to you.
Recognition that the absence of self-control and perceived self-reliance based on hive-mind thinking is not a healthy state of self -reliance, but a carefully contrived dialogue you have been subjected to, is when the differences to genuine aspects of Self-sovereignty is clear to see.
The emerging dialogue in the western culture is to a hive mind where anyone that deems to think differently is outside the circle and should not be allowed voice or place in the debate.
The panacea of a hive mind self-reliance is to build up the consumer toys, the retirement fund, and bow to the altar of consumerism. At the same time failing to recognize the lack of self-control and a willingness to blame others for things that go wrong.
With that in mind, here are five strategies you can use to build a true communal connection, recognize hive mind, harness and determine your environmental triggers.
Environmental triggers
The earlier you can target environmental triggers, that lead to hive-mind thinking the better off you will be. Recognize what situations are likely to make self-control difficult and come up with a plan to avoid those situations. Perhaps the post-Christmas sales or end of year run-out sales the hive mind needs to justify, are something you should avoid.
Social media and keyboard warriors
Social media and keyboard warriors pinging your device for your attention, try switching off your data connection for certain times, show a true aspect of self-reliance and chase down a primary source document from one of the fire hoses of social media commentaries, and check the source and counter opinions instead of blindly re-tweeting the latest meme.
Money or Debt
Money or Debt the goal of the anti-community is to make the have and the have not’s use the belief that more is better and that debt is money and it buys you the same value of future enjoyment.
If you want something, be very specific, state what you will do, when you will do it, and the true cost. Specifying the details of what the consequences are, makes self-control more likely that you succeed in any heat of the moment/hive mind buying decisions.
Plan your community
Plan your community find a few friends who you could call on for a conversation whenever you are needing to hear a different viewpoint on a subject matter. You never want to find your self in an echo chamber of similar opinions or thought processes. This is a true strength of community to be tolerant and examine alternative viewpoints to a societal norm or newly introduced meme, not to demonize and de-platform alternative thinking.
Use imagination
Use imagination, you can improve the cultivation of self-sovereignty using the “what if” technique.
“What if” is a powerfully endowed statement that allows unfettered imagination and possibilities a starting point, which in turn allows solutions and alternatives to be allowed to percolate to the surface of your conscious mind.
The imagining of “what if ” done with intention is like a key that unlocks the unconscious thought patterns that will always be knocking at the door of consciousness.
The societal patterns and norms we are exposed to, are dictating the use of self-control and self-reliance aspects just to deal with the noise of the second part of the Emerson quote I used at the beginning the
” circumstances will overtake us”
The first part of his quote that I started with
“Unless we overtake ourselves”
is a primary element of understanding Self-sovereignty as an antidote to the hive mind and newspeak mentality. This hive mind, newspeak mentality is showing up as a platform for a crippled sense of self-reliance, absence of self-control, and a cause for the proliferation of blame and shame culture and no responsibility.
There is no perfect strategy that will allow a “free will ” mindset to have a universally accepted application to every individual’s life.
The concept of self-sovereignty as a true barometer of a life well lived and harmonious society is nebulous at best. Though it has enough of a positive effect on an individuals life to implement at any level.
Make no mistake to live a life based on the decision making matrix of the concept of self-sovereignty is to accept straight up that you as an individual are responsible for your life and all aspects of your field of influence on it.
At times it is not for the faint-hearted because you will be going against the tide at some point and plunging down the rapids at others.
The water current analogy is another of the fundamental aspects of self-sovereignty, by understanding that recognizing life is a wild ride you are responsible for looking ahead and preparing for what conditions are known and building resilience to the unknown.