Being “Crazy” in a Sick Society is Actually Healthy

Jiddu Krishnamurti once said, “It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Yet, being born and raised in such a society, most people don’t realize that it is sick, let alone that they themselves are part of this sickness—just as fish don’t realize they live in water and are part of sea life.

What does it mean to live a “normal” life? In today’s world, it means being brainwashed for over a decade by what we call school, only to later work as a wage slave and compete with others for almost the rest of your life—merely to pay bills and survive. It means consuming products endlessly because advertising has persuaded you to, all the while unconsciously harming the very planet that sustains you. It means slowly poisoning your body with disease-causing foods, blindly following rules imposed by authority figures, remaining passive and uncreative, suppressing yourself in countless ways—living in suffering yet doing nothing about it.

If you pause for a moment and reflect, you might realize that this way of living is sick—yet it is accepted by nearly everyone as healthy and it is even rewarded by society. In fact, those who excel at living this way are considered to be successful, while those who seek to create a different, more meaningful and fulfilling path are ridiculed and looked down upon, dismissed as stupid, weird, or even crazy.

But what is the point of living this way? Life can be lived so much better—we can live playfully, filled with laughter, love, and creativity; at peace with ourselves and others; savoring the wonderful gifts of existence. Sadly, only a few people manage to escape the matrix they’ve been unconsciously trapped in since birth. These are the rebellious ones who dared to think outside the mental box society forced them into and to break free from the shackles of social conditioning.

Rebelling against normalcy

To rebel against the normalcy of society is one of the most difficult things you can do, because it requires the courage to be honest with yourself and others. To speak the truth in a world filled with deception is tremendously risky, as it means going against the current of tradition—confronting the crowd mentality and facing immense hardship as a result.

Many people have had the courage to stand up against our sick culture, but most could not endure the negative consequences of their actions. When no one embraces your uniqueness, and when everyone tries to suppress you and force you back into conformity, it is easy to lose heart—and not uncommon to experience profound psychological anguish. That is why some of the greatest minds to have ever walked the Earth suffered from serious psychological disorders. And although, long after their passing, they are recognized as geniuses, in their own time they were often dismissed as weirdos or lunatics by the majority.

Once you realize how sick the way most people live is and openly go against it—trying to reclaim your freedom and forge your own path—you are bound to encounter resistance. People, including friends and family members, will likely do everything possible to place obstacles in your way and “help” you become “normal” again—that is, exactly like they are. Instead of helping you grow your wings and rise toward the boundless sky, they will do their best to clip them, keeping you crawling by their side.

Dare to be “crazy”

For a long time, your inner voice has been telling you that life could be lived better—and you should trust it, because it’s right. Following it may be difficult, perhaps the hardest thing you’ll ever do, but it is the only pursuit truly worth striving for. For, again, what is the point of living any other way? What is the point of wasting your entire life in suffering, trying to fit into a sick and oppressive system just because others told you that’s how you were supposed to live?

If you want to improve the quality of your life and contribute to the betterment of the world, you must summon the courage to be a little “crazy.” You need to step away from the comfort of passive compliance and follow your calling, without worrying too much about what others think. You must be willing to go through hardship and persist in your efforts to make a positive difference.

Remember: no matter how much suffering you may go through by walking the path of non-conformity, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Just as a mother experiences tremendous pain while giving birth, you too are enduring immense pain as you bring forth a new kind of life—a life of beauty, joy, and celebration. So embrace pain, let it guide you, and allow it to become a catalyst for change.