On being misunderstood

For a year or two, I've plunged myself into thinking deeply about my own life and the ideas I've garnered, refuted, accepted, willed, and taken action upon. I've evaluated the force of them, honed the resolution and convictions they've stemmed from, and I've asked myself questions that are still my quest. I don't seek answers to them in the state of a philosopher, but rather in the garb of Plutarch's definition of a practical man and test my limits of their execution.

In this state of limited social activity, I've read many biographies and history books, followed by many thought-provoking chains of thoughts: on governments, startups, the geopolitics of my own abode, and delving my mind in understanding disruption that's to change much we've taken for granted, and things our own regimes are aloof off, but few men with foresight are marching towards them with incredible tenacity. The world has become a battlefield of intellectuals, and those not a part of it will soon be cast away. This is not the age where one thinks in terms of borders, square miles, and kingdoms, but in terms of possessions of critical knowledge. It's time that we take lead in such affairs and save ourselves regrets, forebodings, and a good many centuries of further subjugation.

They, the people, misunderstood me when I completely pulled off the societal plug. Was that a self-inflicted wound? It grew on me a giant behemoth that one should stop caring what people think of you, but I was appalled to discover I was wrong in my decision and thought. I had a conflict brewing in me: how should one stop caring about what people think of you? And trust me I seem to have lost that battle!

Everyone, to say the least, cares what people think of them, but one should learn to strike the right balance. Care too much and you become a sheep! Care less, and it's a destructive recipe to both self and society. Often, in my readings, men of the past have deeply cared what future generations think of them, what goes down into books of history is the axis of their interest, and believe me, it's a powerful motivator of action. To care for what people think of you is inherent to the nature of man. In the context of now, one should choose people whose opinions you care about, and on what subjects of your life, and on how long a timescale you care about them.

Trading off short-term low-key for long-term high status is what I've traded, which most people don't. Can't care less of what people have generally thought. Nothing great can be born in short term, it takes an immense toil to build something of any worth to the world and generations to come. It sometimes, leads one to ugly moments, between your own self and mirrors; those unceasing battles of questions and passions that rage within you, but one needs to sit sane and do beautiful work, while at times let yourself be free, consumed by imagination, fueled by books and powerful ideas and people who care about them.

Coco Chanel had something to say:

“I don’t care what you think about me. I don’t think about you at all.”