The Limitation of Identity

                                    The Limitations of Identity

            In a culture that claims to have shed notions of caste and fate, every individual bares the burden of exceptionalism. In a country of idols and virtual celebrities, the realm of greatness no longer belongs to seasoned masters and virtuosos. Greatness is the unique and bold. 

This mundane exceptionalism is perhaps a heavier burden than fate, because if being yourself, truly and fully, defines greatness, what does that say to us who are not yet great? Are we in some way not truly ourselves? Or is our “self” somehow inferior?

            The only bearable answer is to blame the arena. We do not shine because we were not given the chance. We do not stand out because this is not our stage. And here we find the purpose of identity. 

Identities broadcast desired arenas of interaction. Situations, topics, locations that we want to go because they are safe places we feel confident, sure, and bold. We establish identities to establish these arenas. And in that work, conversation and interaction become war.

            When a person wishes to establish an arena of intellect, they assault people with a war chest of facts, quotes, beliefs, and authors. They turn every sentence into a debate of definitions or of higher values or of truth; forcing the conversation on people.

            For the arena of wit, it is sarcasm, allusion, and blunt truth. For the arena of prestige it is accomplish, status, and association. For every arena there is a jargon, a history, a source of action, a locus of meaning that the individual needs to dominate the interaction. 

            The fight to establish the arena of an interaction chains people. Instead of listening and reacting. Instead of taking chances with new thoughts— or just thinking less—with awkward clumsy actions, people chain themselves to safe established routine. They tell the same stories and maxims. While the books they read have different covers and words they trudge the same path. While they may meet different people they remain in the same orbit. That orbit could be one of conformity or rebellion. The rebel who only knows rebels is no different from the conformist who only knows conformists. The artist who only knows artist is just as banal as any consumer cutout.

             We believe these identities set us apart. We believe by knowing how to state exactly who we are and what we believe we are “free” and “enlightened” but we are not. The free and the enlightened do not allow the things they are limit the possibility of what they might become. If everywhere you go, with everyone you meet you talk about the same things, in the same way. You play the same games, and live in the same arena, you are trapped. You are trapped by the idea that you must have an identity; that you cannot be plural; that you cannot be everything. You are trapped by the safety of a world that makes you feel powerful. 

      Lose the table of contents. Stop trying to secure the role of "smart one", "sensitive one", "strong one", "stoic one", etc. 

 Joy in life comes not from dominating one role, but from the freedom of being able to change roles. People are smart, sensitive, strong, stoic, chimeras. Relinquish the role you fight so hard for.  Take on new roles.