Social Learning, Conformism and Herd Behavior

Our ideas of ourselves and reality come from society (parents, siblings, friends, the media, the government, ect) since we are unable to form these concepts on our own as children and learn fastest through observing and imitating others.

We trust the system as children. We think the media, education, healthcare, police and even government systems are perfect and provide everything we need. But once we become adults we realize, “The system is really just screwed and run by a bunch of regular people who embed their own problems into the system.”

Our ability to save time by learning quickly from others is why we usually let society control what to think, believe and how to behave - without taking in account our own values, beliefs and judgments. By definition, we become slaves and lack human soul and creativity.

Did you ever notice people pick up the accents, slangs and mannerisms of the people around them when they move to a new city? It's only natural - it's called Herd Behavior, Conformism, or Social / Observational Learning. Basically people observe and then imitate everyone around us. After all, if everyone is doing it, it must be okay right? Not always...

Advertising says "You can only feel good about yourself when you have this and your life is like this. This is what is valuable to you and everyone else. Without it, you are nothing, you are worthless and your life sucks. Work your dead end job and buy a second of happiness. We need people who don't question these absurd beliefs and who don't want to find out what is truly valuable to themselves". No wonder so many people who strive to attain riches, fame or women have only ended up unfulfilled. They're left feeling hopeless and empty because it wasn’t what they really wanted.

The trouble is... most people have no idea what they want. They accept what society and friends tell them they want: money, fame, women, this car, this lifestyle, this house, to be this person. And guess what happens when we don’t measure up? We can't feel good about ourselves or our life situation. Even if we do possess those things, those external things can never fill an inner void. Just look at Kurt Cobain and Marylin Monroe.

What is really needed is knowledge of what we really want, the confidence to think what we want to think, to become who we want to become and to achieve what we really want to achieve. This is self esteem - it's a constant good feeling about ourselves that isn't dependent on our results, appearances or accomplishments and doesn't leave when we fail or make mistakes. It's based on the simple fact that we are good enough as is and capable of achieving anything and everything we want. And it’s then we naturally create the wealth, the fame and the lifestyle.

I'm not saying that earning money, fame, ect, is wrong - having the best in life for yourself and your family is a great thing. What I'm saying is those things will come faster and in greater amounts by making your focus living your Life Purpose. And earning those things will be a LOT easier and more enjoyable because we would be living our passion. Find what you love doing and you'll never work a day in your life.

But like I said earlier, we have no idea what we really want... it’s never an issue for most people. They rather follow the crowd, the man on the commercial, the lifestyle Hollywood dictates. We think we are our thoughts, actions, results, jobs, clothes and money and look to those things to define ourselves and determine our worth (which is Ego). The information on external conditions in my first article clearly explains this.



People who die fulfilled and create massive social change are the ones who question society’s views and establish a new, more accurate ‘map’ of reality. Their life and their legacy go on for centuries. Life isn’t a brief candle for these people and ‘hard work’ isn’t seen as that, but rather their passion and Life Purpose in action. Hard work and living your passion (including ‘working hard’ towards your passion) produce two completely different feelings and results.

I used to think that in order to be successful, you must first know how to get what you want. You need the strategies and skills. But it became apparent to me that the most important factor is BURNING DESIRE. With that, you’ll seek out the strategies you need because you’ve decided to get it NO MATTER WHAT. It’s either you do or you die trying. When one has that amount of resolve and persistence, that person is practically guaranteed success.

The problem lies in finding out what you really want because we’re so socially conditioned to value the wrong things. They blind us to our true Life Purpose. Our Life Purpose is in line on so many levels with our identity and what we really want, that action becomes an unavoidable result. We don't need motivation then because we will be doing what we really want anyway.

Your Life Purpose holds the key to all fulfillment, wealth, health, success and love. Everyone has a Life Purpose at any age, the best times to discover your mission is during adolescence and in mid-life. But detecting (not creating) your Life Purpose requires expert guidance and support to show you where to look and common misconceptions to avoid.

Once you get in touch with your Purpose, NOTHING IN THIS WORLD MATTERS AS MUCH because you found what truly matters. It isn’t money. It isn’t ‘being the Man’. It isn't even having life going good for yourself. It’s simply being yourself and sharing your gifts with this world... leaving a legacy for future generations. That is something that you create, not something that is given to you. So stop waiting for happiness. If you know your worth it, go out and make it happen. Demand and claim everything that you're worth.