Before You Belong to the World, Belong to Yourself

To my returning readers: great to see you again!
And a warm welcome to all the new readers.

I feel elated as I write the 5th edition of Think About It because this week, we’re discussing a quote from one of my favourite books: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

I read this classic in 2019, and since then, I have not missed any opportunity to recommend this book to whoever is asking for recommendations, whether online or offline.

If you haven’t read it, then of course, I highly recommend it.
And don’t worry, I won’t be giving away any spoilers in this newsletter.

This book is filled with so much life advice, and I absolutely love this one:

Atticus Finch (the character who says this) is simply saying two things:

• Self-awareness comes first

• Your conscience isn’t up for a vote.

In the first part, he argues that you can’t face the world honestly until you have confronted your own values, flaws, and moral compass.

This means that your primary relationship—the most important one—is the one you have with yourself. 

So, before you can truly function, interact, or be at peace with other people or society, you must first be comfortable, honest, and at peace with:

i) Who you are and,
ii) the choices you make.

Here, "live with myself" could imply:

• Self-respect and integrity: You need to be able to look yourself in the mirror and respect the person you see.

• Moral consistency: Your actions should align with your core values and beliefs, so you don't feel guilt, shame, or hypocrisy when you reflect on them.

• Authenticity: You can’t compromise your truth just to fit in because that ultimately leads to internal conflict.

• Inner peace: If you're constantly at odds with yourself, your internal turmoil will inevitably spill over into your interactions with others, and it may prevent genuine connection or effective action.

In the second part of the quote, Atticus reminds us that:

• Morality is not a popularity contest.

• Society’s approval doesn’t make something right.

• If everyone else is doing it, that’s not a reason for you to do it too.

Your conscience—your inner sense of right and wrong—is not something that can be decided by what most people think, believe, or do.

It's a personal and individual moral guide that stands independent of popular opinion.

The emphasis is that ethical decisions aren't made by consensus. What is "right" for an individual is determined by their own conscience, not by what the crowd dictates.

It also implies that the burden of moral decision-making is on the individual. 

That means you can't simply follow the crowd and free yourself of responsibility for your actions.

This quote still feels relevant today because it digs into individual vs. society—a timeless tension.

We see this everywhere:

Social Media and Groupthink: We have a tendency to conform to group opinions, especially within online communities (echo chambers) on whatever social media platform we use.

Because we fear that disagreement can lead to swift backlash, cancellation, or ostracisation.

Moral Dilemmas in a Complex World: AI ethics, political polarization, climate change, social justice issues, you name it, we face complex moral dilemmas where there isn't a clear "majority" consensus. Or usually, it’s where the majority hold views that we find morally unacceptable.

Authenticity and Mental Well-being: We constantly struggle with stress, anxiety, and unhappiness. This could be because we are living a life that is out of sync with our true values and beliefs.

Whistleblowing and Speaking Truth to Power: In corporate, governmental, or even local community settings, many of us often face situations where we witness some wrongdoing, but we fear speaking out due to potential repercussions or the overwhelming power of the majority/system.

Now, you may argue or ask: It’s not always alright and practical to go against consensus.

Well, of course. Harper Lee doesn’t suggest that we always have to listen to our conscience. It’s just not practical. And we’re social creatures after all.

Here’s when consensus and external approval matter (without betraying yourself):

1. When you lack expertise

If your doctor says, “Take this med,” and your gut says, “But Google said…”—trust the consensus of experts. Or it’s just silly. Your conscience isn’t a substitute for knowledge.

2. For harmony (when stakes are low)

Let’s say you’re planning a trip with friends. Then, you can overrule your “I don’t like beaches” stance to avoid a 30-minute debate. It’s fine. Save it for bigger battles.

3. When you’re seeking help/feedback

If ten people say your writing is confusing, but your conscience might protest (“But I like it!”). You should let it go in this case because their input will help you improve. External eyes reveal blind spots.

Think of it like a muscle: conscience = spine, consensus = joints.
One keeps you upright, the other lets you move with others.

That’s all for this week.

And as always, I’ll leave you with a couple of questions:

• Have you ever silenced your conscience to keep peace with the crowd?

• When was the last time you chose your inner truth over outer approval?

You don’t have to answer me. Just something for you to think about.

Will see you next week.

Until then

Stay curious

PS: If you think someone you know would benefit from this newsletter, then I urge you to forward it to them :)