Goal

This week, I discuss permission: what it is, why people pursue it, and why weak individuals are addicted. Then, I conclude by covering how to reduce your need for permission.

Table of Contents

What Is Permission?

seeking approval | man walking toward crowd

Seeking approval from your virtuous community is never a bad thing. Seeking approval from the mob, ruling classes, and elites is a sign of weakness.

“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” – Andre Gide

Permission is “consent and authority to pursue an action or make a decision.” Permission is not wrong. We should seek approval from those we are loyal to or from a just authority. For example, you should seek your spouse’s consent before making a significant purchase, like buying a car.

However, weak individuals desire the mobs, ruling classes, and elites’ permission for minor and major decisions. Spineless individuals do not want to make choices and live with the consequences. Therefore, consent is not pursued out of respect for one’s community or to adhere to a reasonable authority. Weak individuals prefer to seek approval from others to absolve themselves of moral responsibility for their actions.

For example, a weak individual may seek permission from a corrupt authority. This way, when others judge the spineless individual for his actions, he can say, “Hey, I was just following orders,” or something similar.

Needing Outside Approval Makes You Easier To Control

most people want to be told what to do | crowd

Most people always want to be told what to do.

Weak individuals desire permission because they do not want responsibility for their thoughts, beliefs, and actions. However, those who want approval are easier to control. You’ll agree to terrible things if you seek permission from every authority without discerning if you should need it.

For example, people agreed to the destruction of the economy, plummeting mental health, and undermining our social order to receive permission from the ruling classes about how to deal with COVID. Spineless individuals sought this permission, even though the ruling classes did not know what they were doing, constantly shifted their narratives, and had no long-term plans or concerns for the most vulnerable.

But why did people seek permission? Because they did not want to deal with the consequences of living their lives. Weak individuals were not concerned about “safety,” especially as more and more evidence came through about how ineffective the lockdowns were. Individuals acted as they did to avoid caring for each other and rationally responding to a pandemic. Now, all pro-lockdown people can point to the government, the media, or each other instead of blaming themselves. They sought permission. Thus, they are absolved of wrongdoing.

How to Stop Needing Approval

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

People ask for permission from outside forces because they fear being responsible, standing by what they’ve done, and receiving attacks from the mobs, elites, and ruling classes for making independent decisions.

Therefore, our solutions help you build your confidence and expand your opportunities.

  1. Build Your Self-Worth – To start, build your self-worth by going to the gym, saving your money, reducing your vices, and learning new skills. What I described is difficult, but with more confidence, you will be able to say “no” when it counts.
  2. Ask Questions – When you encounter a situation or hear a particular argument, ask yourself questions. “Is this thing really as offensive as they say?” “Is there a better way to handle emergencies?” “Are there other opinions I should consider?” Ask these questions privately within yourself or to trusted individuals. You have to start practicing your capacity to reason.
  3. Work on “Cancel-Proofing” Your Life – Our current culture is sick. Many people fear being “canceled” or having their lives torn apart by the mob. Such a fear is justified. Therefore, seek ways to cancel-proof your life. Build a community, save money, help others, create multiple income streams, and reduce your vices. The less you depend on society’s brokenness, the less fear you’ll have when the mob turns on you.
  4. Live Your Life Without Permission – This last step is open to you. For some, living your life without permission is refusing to wear a mask that doesn’t work. It means vocalizing your opinion on a “taboo” topic or helping virtuous individuals regardless of elites’ approval. Whatever form this rebellion takes for you, remember to live in a way not pre-approved by the busybodies, weak individuals, and elites.

You Don’t Need Permission To Become An Individual

individualism - personal strength | women on bed

Individualism promotes personal responsibility, sustainability, and virtue. Such elements make you stronger and more cable. And strong individuals do not need permission from disingenuous, corrupt people.

Permission in itself is not a bad thing. Asking for approval from your community before making a significant decision or seeking permission from just authority are not bad things. Individuals should always be respectful of others within a virtuous community.

But you don’t need to agree with a nosy, judgemental neighbor. You shouldn’t want the government’s approval before deciding whether or not you can earn a living. You shouldn’t determine your fashion based on what the latest 15-minute pop star thinks is “cool.”

Life is to be enjoyed responsibly and thoroughly. Others will demand you come to them for their approval as to what your life should be. If their threat for noncompliance isn’t jail time, then ignore them.

Weak individuals are not worth the cost of a life well-lived.

Actionables

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde

  1. Who are you loyal to? Which individuals do you seek advice from? Why?
  2. How does it feel to have to seek the approval of the ruling classes constantly? Whether you want to change your name, update your address, or spend your money, you always need the ruling classes’ permission. Have you ever thought about this?
  3. Do you respect the opinion of most celebrities? Why or why not?
  4. Are there opinions that you have which you do not feel comfortable discussing? Why don’t you want to discuss them? What are the consequences of discussing your views?

Please remember that it’s important to do the actionables. You’re not on this earth to simply read but to do. To become an individual, you must act more than you consume.

*Image credit to Unsplash.