Our grades do not define us.

Our salaries do not define us.

Our GPAs do not define us.

Our weights do not define us.

Our follower counts do not define us.

Our ranks do not define us.

Our sizes do not define us.

All of these things share one commonality: they are all numbers. In this increasingly number-dominated world, we tend to place great significance on the amount of money we make, on the grades we receive, or on the number of “likes” we receive on a social media post. We believe that our success and worth is determined by these factors. The truth is, though quite obvious (and quite obviously disregarded), we are not numbers; we are not some intangible, abstract, man-made concept. We must take time to understand and internalize what this really means. We must evaluate the cause to which this problem was predicated: the origin. Why are we so enthralled by a mere mathematical unit? Why do we idolize numerals to which we first gave meaning? They are standards by which all else is measured, yes: units for norming, yes. Why, though, must we succumb to their ruthless control? Why must we allow for them to define us to the extent that we have?

The problem lies not in our minds. It is an undeniably evident issue that lies in the apparent logic we doggedly espouse: in our way of thinking. From the moment we make our entrance into the world, we are labeled. As we grow, we are societally conditioned to accept these labels. This is certainly OK in some regards, but the moment we deem ourselves unworthy, stupid, incompetent, or fat, because of a number, is the very moment in which it deviates from the zone of acceptance. When we identify ourselves according to a label, we are not living as we are meant. We are living as socially created puppets of the world: people who accept that numbers determine our value. But they do not. A number is a number is a number is a number. That is all. Deeper scrutiny will inevitably stimulate disaster. We place too great of focus on them. We begin to dwell, and dwelling leads to over analysis, and over analysis leads to self-hate, and self-hate leads to darkness and depression. So many of our problems originate because of these numbers. So many of our problems arise because of the amount of money we have or do not, the grade we received or did not, the weight we are or are not, the size of our bodies or the size we wished we were. The list is endless.

Numbers do not define us. We habitually get absorbed in this idea, however, that they do. We can certainly continue striving towards a distinct number, weight, grade, salary, and waist size, even those that are so overtly unrealistic. In the end, though, will that really appease us? Will that truly eradicate all of our problems?

If where we are now is not acceptable, then by all means, change is probably necessary. But we must not arrive at that conclusion based on society’s ideals. We must view it judiciously, from a distant perspective: one that is not concealed or altered by worldly standards, or disguised in some clever media-constructed ploy. Sometimes, we must practice dissociation: separating society from reality, numbers from identity.

The two are not inextricably related, despite our understanding. Once we begin to slowly disunite them, and rid ourselves of this belief, our vision will no longer be obscured.

These are just numbers we are talking about. We do not have to let them define us.

“Unless we base our identity on the truth of who we are, it is impossible to attain true happiness.” ~Brenda Shoshanna