Are We Living In A Giant Copy-Paste Machine?

Are We Living in a Giant Copy-Paste Machine?Neda Amanat

0:00

No matter how hard we try, society instills in us a set of norms — the dos and don’ts of a “well-formed” life. From childhood, we’re taught what it means to be successful, and that definition is rarely our own.

Sometimes I think our world has become one giant copy-paste machine!

People following the same scripts, chasing the same labels of success, afraid to stand

out... and afraid not to stand out!

Every girl and boy, man and woman seems to become just another version of each other — following the same fashions, adopting the same opinions, taking the same jobs. Even the timeline of our lives feels pre-scripted: when to finish school, build a career, find a partner, start a family, and retire.

If you think about it, most of what we believe — about beauty, kindness, success, love, even hate — has been handed to us by the world around us.

We grow up learning;

what an "excellent education" should look like,

what an "ideal career" should provide,

how a “good parent” should act,

what a "happy life" should include — and so on.

So much of what we pursue comes from a deep desire to fit in, to earn respect, to be accepted.

And somewhere along the way, many of us lose sight of what we actually enjoy, what makes us feel alive, what we truly love to do — not just for the season to get somewhere or earn something, but for how it makes us feel.

But is this really where we want to be headed?

Is this a healthy society?

Is this a happy society?

If we all want and like the same things — what’s the point of having all these beautiful differences? What’s the value of all our unique colors, shapes, skills, personalities, dreams, likes and dislikes, if we’re just trying to fit into the same mold?

What kind of world are we left with, if it all becomes uniform?

 —————————————————————

This is the question I’ve asked myself for many years:

How do I know what truly makes me happy?

What is the path that is authentically mine?

It’s not an easy question to answer. It requires courage to peel back the layers of expectations — from family, friends, culture, society, and even ourselves — and listen to the quieter voice within.

I don’t pretend to have the power to change the course of society. But I do believe we each have the power to choose our own path — even while respecting the norms and values of the world around us.

Imagine this: If nobody knew you, nobody judged your worth by your job title, the accolades you've earned, or your rank in society, would you still choose the same career you’re in today? Would you still be doing what you’re doing now?

If your answer is yes — my hat’s off to you.

You already know what brings you joy and fulfillment, and you’re walking your path.

But if your answer changes when you strip away expectations — if you realize you’ve been chasing someone else’s dream and someone else's definition of success — then perhaps it's just the right time to turn the page and rewrite the script.

And if you'd like help with that, my door is wide open.