Everyone has someone they look up to whether that someone is a politician, a celebrity, a family member, an inventor, or a famous philanthropist. Finding someone you admire and want to strive for being can be a healthy way of creating standards for yourself. You know what you to be and what level of accomplishment you want to meet. While this is being done, however, there is a factor that needs to always be considered.
There is a noticeable tendency for society to idolize and idealize certain individuals within it. These individuals become idols for the masses to look up to and desire to be like. No matter how high of a pedestal they are placed on, however, they are always people like us. They have struggles, mental illnesses, habits, desires, opinions, and flaws. This is how they should be looked at. They are people who have made accomplishments and excelled in society, but they are still ultimately like everyone else.
Frequently, I see friends and society in general turn other people into ideas for them to live up to rather than as people with impressive contributions to civilization. Because that is what they are. They're people, and I'm sure most of them what to be treated as such. Leaders should not just be hardworking and tireless workers for their followers. Athletes should not just be Olympians who are physically perfect and require nothing outside of their chosen sport to be happy. Everyone has something that brings them down to Earth. This is the manner that everyone should view celebrities.
Viewing someone you look up to as a human being is a healthy thing to do. You take away the accomplishments of that person, and all you are left with is a person. Your goals seem to be a lot easier, and your self-confidence would likely increase. You are no longer reaching toward becoming the ideal. You are working toward accomplishing goals. It becomes a matter of shifting your focus.
When I was starting out as a new member in a number of my college clubs, I looked at the club leaders as superior individuals who were somehow above the activities of the club members. After I grew to hang out with them and became their friends, however, I was hit with the realization that they are more like me than I first thought. They are nerds who enjoy playing board games and talking about memes. They were brought down to Earth the more I got to know them. Now, they are not just leaders. They are people with distinct personalities and struggles. My focus became who they are as people rather than who they are as leaders. It felt so liberating.
It made me feel as though no one is above me, no matter how much they may accomplish or what position they may have. I could challenge others about their views without feeling intimidated by who they were. I didn't feel as though I needed to impress them. I felt like I could do anything, and I just needed to actually do it. I was a human being who was on equal level with the people I looked up to.
Focusing on the people rather than their accomplishments makes all goals seem within reach and no one becomes untouchable. I imagine if everyone were to have this outlook, there wouldn't be as many inferiority complexes. Everyone should be treated as a human being, even the most impressive and accomplished individuals.
