Stop Defining Yourself Through Numbers | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Stop Defining Yourself Through Numbers

Becoming the values that we use to define ourselves and each other.

154
Stop Defining Yourself Through Numbers
Jaclyn Graybill

For as long as I can remember, I have been terrified by numbers.

When I was little, I used to be terrified of getting older. I wished I could stay 9-years-old forever (and ten years later I can definitely understand why). I haven't stepped on a scale outside of the doctor's office in years. Any grade in class lower than a 90% gives me anxiety. For as long as I can remember, I have been terrified by numbers, and how they define who I am as a person.

Today, we often allow ourselves to become our identity. While you may think that yourself and your identity are one and the same, there is a difference between being your authentic self and letting all the characteristics and identifications come after – and becoming the things that define you. Very often do we define ourselves by numbers, but is that a fault of society, or rather just an affect of organization?

Before we are even aware of it happening, we are assigned and defined by numbers, from our "number" in the classroom to help with organization of the students (I can still remember always being somewhere between 8 and 11), to state issued id's, even the apartments and dorm rooms we inhabit. Can we help but be known by numbers?

I don't know if this is necessarily anyone's fault, but the side effects of this practice are evident and not always positive. As a result, we become consumed by numbers: the "right" number on the scale, number of followers and likes, the number on our paychecks.

It's a maddening affect because it becomes a matter of comparison. We compare ourselves to the next person in order to deem ourselves worthy of love and acceptance, and it's a hard habit to break. The reality of it is that these comparisons are never fair. The person you wish you could be is probably wishing the same thing about someone else.

The girl who's weight you wish you were at, may be there because of genetics or otherwise, and will probably wish she was at a different one. The guy who's height you wish you were at might wish he weren't quite so tall. There are many reasons as to why we are characterized, and it's not always anyone's fault or reasoning, it just is.

When it comes down to it, these comparisons by numbers are arbitrary. Someone's under-weight could be someone else's healthy weight. Someone's GPA is probably the best of their ability, versus someone who doesn't try. Someone's followers on social media may indicate a passive following, but doesn't generate any real value of human interaction.

Using values to generate self worth just isn't, well, worth it. The only thing that should matter is what you are worth to you. While there is nothing wrong with trying to achieve a certain GPA, a certain weight, a certain salary, it shouldn't come at a cost. Using numbers to define us should be beneficial in self love and discovery. If we use these characteristics on ourselves, okay; it is when we compare our "values" to others when the practice becomes detrimental.

In a recent Vlogbrother's video, Hank Green made a video on a similar topic. In the description for the video, he remarks that things like followers, etc. are "such seductive surrogates for meaning". We all have our moments when we fall for these "surrogates of meaning", and it often creates a lot of negativity, when in reality we are all really looking for the same thing: meaning.

Whether it's meaning through self love or social awareness, etc., all we really want is to be loved and accepted. Regardless of our definitions, whether self imposed or otherwise, I think this is a good thing to keep in mind. We are not our values, they are just the result of us, and I refuse to be afraid of them anymore. It's a way to leave our marks on the world, and show just a little bit of who we are in this moment in time. That, I think, is the true beauty in our definition by numbers.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

3964
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

40 Gift Ideas for the Indecisive

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

118428
Christmas gifts around a tree
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2024, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Bucket List To Live In The Now

Find excitement in your life and start exploring wherever you are right here, right now.

646
mu bucket list

I was sitting at my cubicle, now that I am an adult, looking at the rain pouring down on the windowsill, bumming on life, wishing for the rain to just stop for a full day.

There are moments where we count down the hours until work is over and how many more days till the weekend, and this many weeks until something exciting. Or something like that? Well, I was bumming because my next day off from work is not until Memorial Day weekend, which is not until the end of May. And since this is my first year out of college being a “real person,” I am totally missing the winter, spring and summer breaks. I am sure all of us have felt this way even if just for a hot minute…

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Ways To Survive Finals As Told By Leslie Knope

Because you know you're going to be stressed out, and Leslie knows exactly how to survive.

474
Everything hurts and I'm dying

So finals are on their way. That's right everybody, finals are about to start.

But hey, don't panic. Start getting your affairs in order and prepare for a week of hell. Here's a few things Leslie Knope wants you to do to make your finals week just a little bit less stressful:

Keep Reading...Show less
Kent State University
Great Value Colleges

If you go to or went to Kent State, then more than likely you have done or will do some of these things.

1. You’ve slipped and fallen on the ice at least once.

The winters at Kent are brutal, and while the heated sidewalks and some great snow boots are always a help, there’s no chance you won’t bust it on the ice at least once in your four plus years at school.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments