FREEDOM IN BEING YOU

I watched Divergent in the weekend and I LOVED it!  I’m not a fan of science fiction so I was pleasantly surprised.  Throughout the movie are the themes of bravery, overcoming fears and conformity versus non-conformity.  It was entertaining but it also got me thinking.

Before I share my thoughts though, here’s a quick synopsis: Tris (the lead character) lives in a world divided by factions based on virtues.  When she comes of age she is required to choose where she will align herself for the rest of her life.  This choice is supposed to be based on an aptitude test revealing which faction she’s most suited to.  However, Tris learns through this test that she’s Divergent, a non-conformist and doesn’t fit nicely in any group.  Still a choice has to be made and having been captivated by dauntless (the brave) as a child, she forsakes her parents and faction of birth for a people she feels is more like her.

How many of us feel that we have been boxed into a group about who we are?  Or feel we need to conform to fit in?  How many of us are tired of it and just want to be ourselves and still be accepted? 

There is an overwhelming desire by people at the moment to be authentic and real, not as Brian Gardner of Unfiltered writes, “a staged version of [ourselves] that we tragically spend most of our time creating.”

Tris’ love interest in Divergent says, “I think we’ve made a mistake…we’ve started to put down the virtues of the other factions in the process of bolstering our own.  I don’t want to do that.  I want to be brave, and selfless, and smart, and kind, and honest [all of the factions].”

We need to engage in a journey of discovering who we really are underneath who we think we should be.  We need to be able to embrace our uniqueness and recognise that who we are is a gift to the world.  In doing that, we also need to recognise that others are doing the same; we don’t want to box them in or put them down to bolster ourselves but we want to accept them with love and grace acknowledging that they are on the same journey we are.

And like the Divergent quote, I want to be brave, and selfless, and smart, and kind, and honest.  I want to soar on the freedom that being me brings, and I want you to be able to do the same.