What does it mean to be yourself?" he asked. "If itmeans to do what you think you ought to do, then you'redoing that already. If it means to act like you're exemptfrom society's influence, that's the worst advice in theworld; you would probably stop bathing and wearing clothes.The advice to 'be yourself' is obviously nonsense. But ourbrains accept this tripe as wisdom because it is more comfortableto believe we have a strategy for life than to believewe have no idea how to behave.
In the excerpt from Scott Adams' book "God's Debris: A Thought Experiment," the narrator poses a provocative question about the meaning of being oneself. He challenges the idea that being yourself involves merely doing what one thinks is expected or acting without the influence of society. This perspective suggests that such notions could lead to absurd outcomes, like abandoning basic personal hygiene.
This reflection underscores the complexity of individuality and suggests that blindly following the advice to "be yourself" is misguided. Instead, it reveals a deeper truth about the human experience: we often find comfort in the belief that we can navigate life confidently, even when the reality is that we are often uncertain and shaped by external influences.
