Another Brick In The Wall?

Is that how you feel? Just another brick in the wall? An automaton that society has turned out? Not essentially different from anyone else? Manufactured, cemented into position, unable to move, having to stay where you were put because you have no choice? Wanting to break free and be different? How depressing!

Take a look at houses and walls. Bricks come in all shapes and sizes and colours (take a good look at the bricks in the picture and see if you can spot two that are the same!). Bricks do not speak of conformity, but of creativity. Bricks are in place intentionally to ensure that a construction is stable. Bricks speak of strength.

“Unique” has become a devalued word. It means one of its kind. But today people speak of all sorts of things as being unique when they’re not. Some people speak of something or someone being “very unique”, which is a nonsense phrase. Or, being more generous, hyperbole. What is unique is you. Every one of us is unique. We may look like some other people, but we’re not them. We may think the same as some other people, but we’re not them. We are unique, just like everybody else!

We’re individuals, able to do things other people can’t do. We have different gifts and talents. Yes, you may think you’re useless at everything, but this isn’t the case. And it should really not be too difficult to find out what your strengths are and play to them. While we’re individuals and not part of a collective blob of humanity, we should still realise that we’re part of a society of individuals (indeed, of many societies). While it may be liberating to realise that you’re unique, it’s also liberating to use your gifts and talents not only for your own benefit, but also for that of the common good. Not because you are forced to, but because you want to. This is philanthropy.

Helping others is said to have a feel-good effect. This may be due in part to the feeling of satisfaction at helping, partly to interaction with others as a combat to loneliness, partly to seeing that other people are more in need than you are (engendering a sense of gratitude and empathy). It may help to reduce stress, find friends, reach out to a community, learn new skills, and even advance your career. 

Being “another brick in the wall” doesn’t have to be a negative concept. It all depends on your attitude. You can break free to help others and boost your self-esteem into the bargain.