To break out of conformity, you have to look at your life and go through a process of self-realisation.

You have to identify what you’re doing as a result of programming, conditioning and social pressure. And you have to delve within and uncover your authentic self.

Question yourself. Where do your beliefs, ideas and values come from? Can you trace back their roots?

How much of you is original? How much of what you do in life is due to programming and conditioning? How much of what you do is solely to please others and fit in?

Get in underneath the reasons for why you have certain attitudes, motivations and desires.

Why do you want certain things and lifestyles? Why do you want to be like certain people? Why do you want to be perceived in certain ways? Why are you heading in the direction you’re going in?

Dig deep and uncover your genuine values, your principles, your abilities, your inspirations, and your passions.

What is truly meaningful to you? What makes you genuinely happy? What can you easily concentrate on for hours? What brings forth enthusiasm and excitement?

Self Realisation

As you begin to really look at yourself, you will start to perceive yourself from a more objective perspective. You can see how you’ve been influenced by family, friends, colleagues, teachers, media and societal norms.

Some of these influences will have served you well. But can you see any compromises you’ve made? Can you notice any decisions you’ve made as a result of insecurity?

People often conform because they want the approval and acceptance of others. And so they make compromises to fit in with the status quo.

But over time, they can then begin to lose sight of what they were passionate about, about what they felt inspired by, and about what gave them a sense of purpose and meaning.

You have to dig deep and recognise the difference between your authentic values and aspirations, and those that have been foisted upon you by your insecurities and the forces of conformity. You have to recognise who you truly are.

Then you have to figure out ways to honour your authenticity.

It’s about living in ways whereby you embody and become your values and inspirations.

It’s about being true and acting without pretence or fakeness. It’s about developing your natural talents and strengths, whilst acting in alignment with what is genuinely meaningful to you.

It’s about becoming deeply attuned to your inner wisdom and feelings. It’s about living a life wherein you are fully aware and conscious of the choices you make.

The path of authenticity is the path of the realised self. And when you’re on this path, life tends to open up and flow much more, because you’re not stifled by the strain that happens when you’re acting from insecurity and conformity.

To break free of conformity, you have to take responsibility for your authenticity. And that means honouring who you truly are, and moving yourself towards a life that you genuinely believe in.