Some time ago, I was at a conference that was expected to provide great tools and tips for self-development. While observing others, I noticed they were all going to the same place in the room and even to the same workshops, something many would call a “herd mentality”.
I wondered if there was something significantly different about the workshops or even the certain spaces the individuals were in. So, I looked closely at what everyone was doing.
There was not a significant difference in where everyone was placed or what they were doing. They were instead following a herd mentality.
Instead of following their own path and mission, they were committed to someone else's, blindly following what they thought would be a better approach instead of their own ideal or passion.
If you really want to master your life, then a herd mentality won't work.
Stop following the crowd! Instead, look at your personal goals, achievements and who you really are. It's the only way you will begin to achieve what you really desire.
This is a part of the Mastery Mentality, which you can view more about in my video here.
What Scientists Say About the Herd Mentality
Guess what? It's not your fault that you follow a herd mentality. In fact, scientists have been intrigued by why we follow each other and copy what others are doing. So they completed a study on the science behind following others.
There is social psychology which creates a belief system in our minds. We are designed to be social and to communicate and interact with others. That means that it is easy to fall into a herd and do what others are doing.
Social psychology comes from a theory called “heuristic belief systems.” This is the psychological reasoning that says that if others are doing something, then it must be good. Instead of taking the time to research for ourselves, why not just follow what others have agreed to? Obviously, there is a consensus that what they are doing is good or works.
The herd mentality from the same research also showed how opinions changed within groups. For instance, some individuals had completely different opinions about the government. When discussing the opinions, they began to change their belief system and mindset to match what others were saying.
That shows you exactly how powerful social groups and herd mentality is!
In another study, it highlighted that it only took 5% of those who made decisions to influence everyone else and to get the other 95% to follow. Our social programming for survival is so deep that we are more likely going to follow others than make our own decisions.
Why do we naturally do this? Psychologists say it relates to our survival instincts. You are safer in a group or crowd and even if the decision is wrong, you will survive if you are with a group. That makes popularity and decisions by groups even more important.
Where Do You Place Yourself in the Herd?
Ever found that you have decided to follow someone because it seems safer or more comfortable?
In some instances, the herd mentality is effective. It does help us to survive and following others will often lead to our success. It's important to work with groups and to socialize to find the right answers and to find solutions that you may not have.
But look at where you place yourself when you are among a group of people. Do you simply follow others and expect them to give you results?
Or do you look at your life, goals and your own purpose to create your own approach and stance towards things?
From one perspective, the herd mentality is extremely effective. It gives us guidelines for our lives that are positive and provides approaches that allow us to move forward with our decisions.
From the other perspective, it can turn us into dabblers instead of masters. Something that is true for someone else may not be true for you.
Will you stand behind your own opinions or will you quickly decide that something is what you want, just because others have the same thing?
Action Items: How To Work With the Herd
There is a difference between the herd mentality and popular belief that works effectively for you. Understand how to use both so that you become the master of your own destiny, without allowing others to get in the way.
Action Item 1: Stick to Your Opinions
Look at the popularity of something, but don't conform because others say so. Instead, look at the opinions you have or had and continue to justify them.
This action item means you need to learn how to discern what you are doing and what you believe. In some instances, it's good to change your opinions, while others allow you to use your own independence to master your life.
Action Item 2: Know Your Passion. Know Your Purpose
A major part of my Life Mastery Blueprint is to understand what you are really passionate about and to know your purpose.
The more you know about yourself, the easier it is to stop herd mentality before it takes over your thoughts and even your identity.
When you know who you are, then you know how much you want to bend to others and what they are doing. At the same time, you know exactly when to stick to your own path and to continue to identify who you are.
If you want to learn more about how to identify your life purpose, then join my Life Mastery Accelerator.
Action Item 3: Set Goals for You
No one has the same life that you do. That means you need to set your own goals in order to achieve your true purpose in life.
The herd mentality is good in helping you to achieve things socially, giving you support for goals. However, if you don't set your own goals, then someone else will set them for you.
This is why I keep specific goals that I know are achievable and which create massive results.
It helps us to no longer be a part of the herd mentality with the things that are important to us. More important, it defines our purpose and draws us closer to reaching what we know is our true purpose and passion.
Action Item 4: Use the Herd Wisely
We are, by nature, social creates. We like popularity and to take advice from others. In turn, we are constantly looking at how we relate to others and what our goals are with others that may be similar to us.
When we go into a lower mentality, we get jealous, feel worthless, become depressed or are even anxious, specifically so we can reach these goals.
When we focus on mastery, we can use the herd mentality to reach our own goals and to achieve our purpose. That may place you in the 5%. It also may help you to know when to follow the herd and when to follow your mind.
Groups of individuals help you to achieve goals. They keep you accountable. And with the need to be social, we are able to use the groups and herd mentality to decide what is right for us.
I surround myself with groups of people that I know are successful. I look at them, work with them and take their advice so I can apply it to my own mastery.
In many of my courses, I work with Members Only Facebook groups. Why? I know that when you state your goals to others and get positive feedback from others, it helps you to reach your expected accomplishments.
We can't deny the power of the herd mentality and understand how social groups can help us. The change is to make sure that we apply this to our own lives.
Action Item 5: Know Where You Stand
We are social creatures. As we grow in size, stay in cities and move into certain places, we are exposed to others that are a part of our social orientation. If you are among others, know where you stand as a part of the herd mentality.
Are you in the background, following others because it seems like the popularity would direct you to the right space?
Are you in the front… one of the 5% that leads and makes the decisions that others then start to follow? This would be an influencer that is able to give certain pieces of advice.
Or are you somewhere in between… sometimes following the popular beliefs and sometimes making your own decisions?
None of the positions are right or wrong. You may find that different instances require alternative results. Look at how you want to stand in the herd mentality, using the social relationship to others as a way to guide your own passion, purpose, and goals.
As you continue to identify where you stand, you will find that you not only feel independent, but you don't change your identity or opinions based on what others do.
Permission To Be You
The herd mentality is natural psychology that we apply because we believe deep down that it will help us to survive and possibly to make the right decisions.
As the process for information grows and as we have less time to find out the truth for ourselves, it becomes easier to follow others in order to find out the best solution.
This is a great way to get the knowledge you wouldn't have expected or to identify something you may have not known before. Social interactions and the way we apply this to others is a constant way to gather the information and results that we want. Many times, it is a shortcut to get what we need.
But rethink your relationship to the herd mentality. Is it really everything that you want to follow in your life?
I personally believe that mastery and the relationship to your own passion, purpose, and goals are more important. Use this as your foundation for everything that you do.
When you begin to identify YOU first, then the herd mentality will follow. You will be able to maximize the popular vote to use for your personal growth. More important, you will find specific approaches that help you to launch your goals while using social support to identify what you really need.
Before you follow others – be yourself. Know who you are, what your passion is and what you want to do.
Then use the herd mentality to get the results you want. The social influence helps you to measure your own goals and to grow in a way that leads to your success. But don't lose yourself in the mix.
If someone decides to jump off a cliff… don't follow. It may not be your true passion or purpose to follow the lead. In other instances, the popularity will help you to get the solutions you really want with your own goals.
Mastery relates to everything. It is based on relationships, success, career, and business. When looking at things such as relationships and the herd mentality, you will know how to apply this line of thinking with who you are and what you really want to achieve in life.
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