The world plays its movie in front of our very eyes: influencers invading our social media and ‘influencing’ our lives, people we see every day judging each other, and higher powers setting expectations for every person. Many people may find that this world we live in is just pure Armageddon. The chaos of modern life, complete with observation and unceasing standards, drains away all the hope in many individuals’ lives, thus creating a culture of self-stigma.
Many reasons have caused an outbreak and spread self-stigmatization throughout our society. Whereas it is a well-acknowledged fact that many of our citizens are born with a high risk of mental illness, according to Stanford Medicine, 50% of depression is hereditary. But where does this other 50% come from? It becomes essential to investigate the societal pressures, particularly those stemming from the digital landscape dominating our lives, that heighten mental health problems.
It has been an addiction to cell phones that, during the past 20 years, has prevailed chiefly between younger and middle-aged generations. The National Library of Medicine finds a link between phone addiction in adolescents and increasing rates of depression and anxiety. The actual source for the increase in mental illness is not the phones themselves but rather the content and the connections we go through with them. We are bombarded with beautifully prepared images and stories that often speak to unattainable beauty standards, success, and happiness. Such exposure creates a never-ending pressure on individuals to feel conformed with the ideals put forward by mass media.
Second, many people are informed that peer pressure does exist; it influences our decisions and psychological well-being greatly. The easy access to our phones amplifies this pressure, as digital interactions are intertwined with everyday life. Social media sites create an atmosphere of comparison and contest in which many will feel incapable or even unworthy. This is specific to adolescents, who are still developing their identities and are easier to influence from the outside.
The importance of coming out of that particular lifestyle cannot be denied. In all fairness, this escape route must come from more serious contingents than just taking a short nap or taking your pet for a short stroll. It needs to be deeper and more intent-driven, whereby people can reconnect with themselves beyond the distractions of modernity.
Transcendentalists believed nature could help us transcend our limitations and find our ultimate potential through the 19th century, searching for individual growth and self-reliance. They observed principles of idealism, individualism, and the inherent divinity of nature. This philosophy can be epitomized by Ralph Waldo Emerson, who in 1841 wrote his essay “Self-Reliance,” stating, “Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist.” This one sentence captures the essence of the transcendentalist movement because the individual is called to be different in a society that calls for otherwise.
Henry David Thoreau was one of the famous transcendentalists who put these ideals to work. In March 1845, Thoreau went into the woods at Walden Pond and camped for two more years. He lived a life of solitude, dependent on himself and his work ethic. An authentic description of living deliberately and authentically tells about the power of nature and introspection in the development of the true self.
Not everyone is called to spend years in the wilderness, but people teach themselves solitude and how to be alone. This is often the only moment we can find out who we are. Alone, in personal experiences, we can reflect on our emotions, thoughts, and dreams; we can thus live for ourselves, not in reaction to outward pressures.
Man now lives in a world where attachment to society has become more critical, which is not bad. But it reaches a point where a person will lose his identity or self in the soil of dependence on what others say about him. They may live for others’ beliefs about them and end up being no more than mirrors of what society thinks they are and should be.
A former graduate of Oakmont, who has asked to remain anonymous, shared candidly about his mental illness and addiction to drugs, saying, “I started doing things because a part of me felt cool… or that there was kind of like a pressure on me that I had to.” He expressed how he had no idea for years who he was and that it would take time and self-reflection to find out. It is an experience shared by many individuals within our society, showing how different people wear masks to fit in and not show their authentic selves.
Self-discovery is an essential journey for people to embark upon, to ‘transcend’ into their authentic best selves. Naturally, this involves courage, commitment, and even the confrontation of uncomfortable realities that come with self-discovery.
Although transcendentalists were people living in a world without smartphones and continuous digital involvement, the way they would apply their logic today would certainly include detaching those devices from their lives. Taking time off from technology gives room for introspection and growth.
It is not only pressure from society that constricts an individual from transcending into being a better version of themself, but also a sedentary life which a person leads. As stated by PubMed Central, an estimated 43% of Americans qualify as sedentary, which contributes to adverse mental health outcomes. For those interested in nature willing to be actively outside, transformation may occur in a way transcendentalists presupposed. Outdoor activities result in revitalization, an increase in positivity, a decrease in tension, and a lower prevalence rate of depression while simultaneously improving energy levels.
The young generation tends to become more vocal about what they believe in and act on behalf of the community, showing attachment to societal issues. Yet, something is wrong; many act contrary to their well-being. Oakmont English teacher Mrs. Paula Stefanakos said about this phenomenon: “The transcendentalists were the first to do it, but people practice similar ideals in different ways every day without even thinking about it.” Everything from weekend camping trips and meditation to journaling can promote feelings of self-discovery and fulfillment. These good behaviors can significantly help in improving the quality of life.
As society keeps developing and changing, self-realization and transcendence should be of growing significance for every human being. We can learn from transcendentalism and attempt to implement some of its principles in contemporary life to be closer to ourselves and the world around us. Embracing solitude, reconnecting with nature, and caring for our well-being are vital to becoming ourselves. After all, self-discovery is a personal journey and a necessary process that may lead everybody toward a more meaningful and fulfilling existence.
