Day 3: What drives you?

“Everyone has a different drive.”

When Katniss Everdeen shoots that arrow, she knows exactly what she wants. Instead of executing and following the order and the expectation of everyone, she aims that arrow right at the one who she thinks is guilty of all the loss to her. She does what she thinks is right. She wasn’t affected by the pressure from everyone.

So should I.

So should you.

Every action that you do everyday is caused by a drive within you to do it. Psychologist Freud summarized this idea into a theory of personality. He stated that your personality and action is caused by three factors within you: the id, the ego and the superego. What drives you maybe your id, the unconscious desire within you to, say, go get food, to touch others, to get money and instinctively gain every advantages you can get. The ego suppresses that desire by following what is considered the “norm”. It seems like a good drive, right? Surely if you become normal like others, you’re not gonna be in trouble.

Except that sometimes, the norm is wrong. What others tell you might not be the best solution to the current situation you’re stuck in. Maybe what your parents want you to be is not what you want to be. Maybe your peers want you to smoke but you don’t feel like so. Life happens and sometimes the majority isn’t right.

That brings me to the superego, or the moral sense of one person. It’s the ability to determine what is right and what is wrong. Sometimes it is okay to disagree with your id and ego, but it’s hard to ignore your superego. You feel stressed because what others say conflicts with what you want. Even when you do what they want, you’re still left wondered what could have been.

So just believe in yourself, your decision, your values, your morality and your drive. It’s certain that Steve Jobs’ parents did not encourage him to drop out of school. But he knew what drove him, and he chased it relentlessly for a good drive. Of course, evaluate others’ opinion. But evaluate your own opinion too. Whatever drives you matters.

Follow it.

Best regards,