Live In The System, But Don’t Let The System Live In You

Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash

The most sage life advice my grandfather has imparted to me

‘Live in the system, but don’t let the system live in you’

I’ve lost count of how many times I‘d hear my maternal grandfather say these words while growing up. They’re his message; they’re part of the legacy of individuality, power and freedom he’s woven, like a spell, into the fabric of each of his children and grandchildren.

In a world and a society where the dominant messages concern themselves with conformity - the need to fit in, to carefully adhere to conventional mores, to look like everybody else, to want what other people want, to do what you’ve been told and not question authority, to stick to pre-approved paths through life — the concept of living within the system without letting the system live in you is one of my core values. It’s given me permission to find my own way in life.

So what does it really mean to live in the system without letting the system live in you?

There is consensus reality, basically a conglomeration of commonly held mindsets and beliefs, and restrictions, and then there’s your subjective reality, consisting of your beliefs, your abilities, your individual spirit.