Opinion: The role of culture in personal happiness
Human beings are social creatures. We do not live in isolation but operate in social units — through families, hierarchies and societies. When a group of people lives in an area over time, a common culture begins to emerge. There are random elements, biological elements and historical elements that melt together to create the construction we perceive to be culture.
Culture determines the ideological, political and demographic features of an average person in society or subgroup. While it could be said that you can find “your people” wherever you go, it is self-evident that everyone is different and some people will fit into different cultures better than others.
Regardless of where it may come from, culture plays a crucial role in our lives — an unavoidable role.
The culture that one surrounds themselves with has real consequences, and ought to be considered in major life decisions because of its prominent role in mental health, personal identity and general well-being.
While a self-identified atheist might be able to find some like minds in Provo, Utah, it might be unlikely that he will relate to the overwhelming Latter-day Saint majority, and thus feel disconnected from those around him. The degree to which someone is compatible with their surrounding culture is the degree to which they have the social freedom to be themselves, unapologetically. And, alternatively, the degree to which they are not compatible with their culture is the degree to which they will feel culturally oppressed.
The importance of culture cannot be overstated. I have lived in several places throughout my life, albeit I lived in some places for much shorter periods than others. Nevertheless, I can attest that in all these locations, culture was perhaps the greatest indicator of my quality of life. When I lived in states with a culture I did not agree with, it led to cognitive dissonance and uneasiness.
When I studied in Russia, I experienced a level of widespread forthrightness and free speech in everyday conversation that I had never previously encountered. I could ask questions and state my opinions without being afraid of the ideological backlash. This appeared in stark contrast to other regions I have lived in that possessed prominent political and religious ideologies that did not match my own.
To live in a culture in which you are deviant is to be surrounded by social tension and pressure. Your very environment becomes an object of anxiety. As a result, you might be afraid to be yourself. You might be afraid to speak your truth and say what you think. On the contrary, I have lived in some cultures I felt incredibly compatible with. I could be myself and speak my mind without the worry of social repercussions. The difference was night and day.
Whether it be financial or social commitments, there are many reasons that it may not be possible for someone to leave everything behind and embrace a new culture. Yet, this does not change the fact that culture remains a salient issue, especially for those that feel marginalized.
Fortunately, the internet is connecting us more than ever before in human history, making it possible to seek out community online. The internet has provided a near limitless amount of information about the world we live in, including various cultural orientations. If you feel like you don’t fit into your culture, it has never been more possible to research different alternatives. There are even Reddit forums with names like “r/IWantOut” frequented by people looking to expatriate their countries.
There is truth to the idea that you can find “your group” wherever you go. While it would be preferable if people could find a society that is completely aligned with their identities, you can always find people that think similar to you and that can offer support.
We all need to be ourselves in life — I do not think we can be anything else. We live in a diverse country and world, filled with cultures of every variety. The world is your oyster, and it’s up to you to figure out which shade of “pearl” is right for your own life.
Featured graphic designed by Keith Wilson. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect his own.