Previous episode, we talked about the benefits of self-exploration. There are also many netizens in the comment section share your experience of trying to live out your true self. I think these stories can encourage others. So thank you very much for sharing here. At the end of the last episode, we also said, self-identity, it is a person's most inner and essential need.

If we can only see people's economic needs, physiological needs, I can't see because I can't know myself, unable to express true self, the mental pain caused, would mistakenly underestimate the importance of personality. As a result, individuals are either in some hidden places paid an extra price, or transfer this cost to others. When we consider this high opportunity cost, will reconsider many choices that are common in Chinese society.

In recent years, more and more people, the involution of Chinese society and the high-pressure atmosphere, start to focus on inner and spiritual liberation. This is reflected in the proportion of psychological discourse in public opinion. Some concepts related to psychology are also constantly emerging, become a popular online term. But, due to the influence of the environment, many in China, popular ideas that seem progressive and liberating, there is a serious problem with its core. Therefore, it can only be said to be a false liberation. So about this topic, there are many things to talk about. In today's video, let's talk about "General Studies".

Let me say one more thing before we start, if you are interested in today's video, or do you have any topic you want to discuss with me? You can contact my email to make an appointment. Let's get back to our topic today.

Popularity of general studies dating back to 2020. Due to the outbreak and economic downturn, more and more people feeling powerless and anxious from reality. The top ten hot words in 2020, "Involution" and "Working People". This sentiment is reflected, as the article states: Times have really changed. Previous years, what we hear is still the brainwashing "success theory". But since last year, young people are increasingly accepting the reality of being an “ordinary person”. Popular culture also began to promote "imperfect" "ordinary studies".

For example, Douban's general study group, more than 70,000 members. The group's announcement reads: We are used to being educated, how to strive for achievement, be a Successful Person. But few people tell us, before that, how to accept yourself, how to be a precious and happy ordinary person.

In the hit song "Ordinary Road", there are two lyrics: Until I see the ordinary, is the only answer. I'm just like you and him, like weeds and wildflowers, cry and laugh, ordinary clothes. Also because this song is very suitable for the theme of general studies, therefore, in the comment section of major music apps, many netizens also left similar sentiments. For example, someone said: "There are three stages in life: knowing that parents are ordinary people, know that I am an ordinary person, know that children are ordinary people". In the comment section of QQ Music, one comment with 10,000 likes said: "When I was young, I was reckless and fearless. Longing for the future, longing for excellence. Later I found it was like a flash in the pan, nothingness. Until the end, I saw the ordinary, awakening from a dream. Ordinary Road, it seems to be a path we all have to take.”

These words, this reveals a meaning: Only when a person realizes his ordinariness and mediocrity, realize the illusory nature of success, to reduce the anxiety caused by delusions, to reconcile with oneself, accept your imperfections. Public Account True Story Project published an article "Ordinary Learning, a Respite for Involuted Young People". I told you this story. The person concerned has always been a top student since childhood. In high school, she admitted that always being first became addictive. But after entering Peking University, she has no other choice, become the person standing at the top of the pyramid. She felt, you can't have any useless hobbies in school. Time cannot be wasted. Don't take a wrong step. If you don't study, go out and play, people will talk about you behind your back. Not doing the right thing. Later she discovered that many people did not come from prestigious schools. You can also live happily. She began to learn to accept and get used to her ordinariness. Focus on the happiness of the present moment. Choose to amplify the highlights of the small moments in life.

As more and more people use "normal learning" as a way to calm your mood, there are more people participate in the creation of general academic content. For example, Professor Chu Yin once said in a certain issue about "Is it difficult to accept mediocrity?" In the debate show, said this: "What's wrong with being mediocre? Is this society only capable of success? Is this society too harsh on losers? I live a normal life, enjoy the happiness of simple people, am I wrong? Why do we have to go through all this trouble?" It is said that these words resonated widely. And it brought him a lot of fans.

Then through the above content, we can summarize, General learning is mainly a means of psychological balance. It encourages people to accept their own mediocrity, or finiteness, trying to dispel success and glory, psychological pressure on individuals. So how should we evaluate general studies? General Studies, can it really alleviate the social atmosphere of involution? What about the anxiety and pain caused?

In fact, I think, “Accept your mediocrity”, this sentence itself is ridiculous, very lack of critical thinking. Friends who often watch Anthony's show should be able to feel, I am this person, I prefer to start from a purely speculative perspective, evaluate a point of view. Then it’s time to look for various experiences, empirical evidence. Then let me continue to explain, why is this sentence thoughtless?

Because the so-called "mediocrity", just ordinary, meaningless, lack of depth. It doesn't mean excellent or outstanding. Accept your mediocrity, it means realizing that one's own nature is mediocrity, limited. This is equivalent to taking all the infinity of the self, transcendence and intrinsic purpose, all dissolved. However, since the self is meaningless, why accept this meaninglessness? Because the act of acceptance itself, it implies a higher system of meaning, and the pursuit of value. This means that the parties believe, accepting mediocrity, it is better than not accepting mediocrity. More sensible.

Here comes a contradiction, because if you are really mediocre, it doesn't matter whether you accept it or not. This paradox is similar to that of a nihilist, it's meaningless to tell others everything. He also wrote many articles to prove this point. However, his behavior itself, there is a strong sense of meaning hidden in it, that is to convince others to "accept that the world is meaningless". This is very meaningful.

So we say, people need to truly accept their own limitations, it can only be standing on a position of infinity and transcendence. Hegel believes, limited meaning, it can only be truly understood in the context of infinity. Limited pain, failure, vulnerability, even mediocrity is not absolute. They are just necessary steps to move towards infinity.

The mainstream evaluation system in Chinese society, often monopolizes people's understanding of infinity, understanding of the sacred and transcendent. It caused psychological anxiety for many people. General studies attempt to pass, reject and deny your own pursuit of transcendence, in exchange for some kind of false reconciliation of the soul. But true reconciliation, it is not to give up the pursuit of universality and transcendence. But to realize, transcendence advocated by mainstream society, maybe it's just a false transcendence. So when you choose to give up, cater to certain secular evaluation standards, it doesn't mean that I accept my own ordinariness. It is more likely that they are pursuing true excellence.

For example, I remember Tsinghua University, I once published a classmate's schedule. It is said that this student only sleeps 5 hours a day, a packed schedule, either in class or reviewing. The handwriting is also very neat. Every action, they all perfectly meet the excellent standards set by the school. Therefore, he has received various honors. Most students feel anxious. Because they feel too ordinary. I can't do this kind of roll.

However, in my opinion, this so-called excellence is the real mediocrity. Because this is actually another way, repeating high school life. Tsinghua University promotes this kind of neat handwriting, the so-called good study style of racing against time, can only explain, Management Model and Aesthetic Standards of Chinese University Leaders, also very mediocre.

Actually, I met many top students and geniuses in college. Gives me this feeling. They strive to get high scores in every subject. But I don't seek to have a deep understanding of this knowledge. Lack of own opinions and interests. If an exam can be passed by reviewing past exam papers, if you get a high score, they won’t spend more time, think deeply about this knowledge. Those who truly pursue, students who have a deep understanding of the concepts, often have no intention to cater to some meaningless, boring assessments or indicators. Results in overall evaluation, instead, they fall behind those students who do not understand the. Therefore, many existing evaluation systems and orders, there are serious problems, even reverse elimination.

Considering that Chinese students usually lack of free time, therefore, if a Chinese student enters university, the university evaluation system is generally formalism and bureaucracy are completely unaware, even blending in effortlessly. Rather than feeling bored or unfair, and life is wasted, this doesn't mean he's better. Better adaptability, I can only say, he may have, lack of space for free thinking and exploration. His boredom tolerance is so high. No ability to perceive, the absurdity of this evaluation system.

I believe everyone still remembers, In the two episodes on November 30 and December 1, videos discussing education, mentioned, People naturally prefer fresh and rich stimulation. Tired of poverty and boredom. However, if people stay in, in a boring, monotonous and closed environment, instead, it may be due to learned helplessness, and gradually got used to boredom. Even become afraid of abundance and diversity.

Many Chinese high school students enter college, although there is no rigid restraint like in high school, but they will spontaneously repeat their high school life. Do the questions without reflection, and the test score will be. They think, even though I don’t know what I really want to do, but when you are confused, go to the test point, it's better than not rolling and falling behind. This does seem like a rational strategy. But it is also short-sighted. Wrapped in fear, the parties make short-term rational choices. In the long run, it's very irrational to see.

So, having a high tolerance for boredom is not a good thing. Many active minds, often find it difficult to stick to meaningless things. But in China, many people appreciate, it is the ability to execute commands mechanically. Able to adapt to any harsh environment, without feeling the pain of losing oneself. But this ability can be viewed from another perspective, it is precisely a manifestation of disability.

Under the mainstream evaluation system of Chinese schools, those who pursue deep thinking, students who are more critical and reflective, instead, I often feel emptiness, pain and doubt. As a result, these emotions affect their worldly behavior. Causes them to be considered ordinary and mediocre. But the opposite may be true. Like to think, pursue depth, this is precisely an excellent trait. In a society that encourages individuality, and a social environment of independent thinking, these traits will be appreciated by those around you. Give the client the courage to continue self-exploration. Eventually developed visible worldly abilities. In China, many people who possess these traits, you have to live in a situation where you are degraded and scrutinized. Result, I haven't yet reached the point of worldly achievement. Because of internal friction, I fell into long-term anxiety.

I believe in inner and outer achievement. Eventually, it should be unified. If we talk about success, view external achievement as a sacred and transcendent goal. Simplifying people into "machines that can be quantified", ignoring intrinsic value and dignity. So the problem with general studies is, directly denies the pursuit of human transcendence. Essentializing human limitations. But this is still limited by the logical framework of success studies. Lack of real independence. It is still the default, the legitimacy of the secular evaluation system, premise. So this peace of mind, is fragile and false.

Once the pressure of social environment increases, the psychological comfort brought by ordinary learning can be easily defeated. The individual will again fall into anxiety. Even if individuals feel, I have accepted my ordinariness. However, when friends, family, colleagues, etc., when we still use secular standards to judge him, he still needs to spend more energy, fight this evaluation on a psychological level. The bottom line, it is impossible for people to accept their own mediocrity.

It is easy for Chinese people to destroy freedom, to solve the problem of lack of freedom. Use self-denial, to solve the pain caused by the inability to develop oneself. Return to the early days of life, beautify it into a higher level of progress and realm. Viewing the absence of personality as a higher level of personality. But this is just a kind of psychological comfort, rather than a real force.

Therefore, true spiritual liberation, it is by no means untouched by the secular evaluation system. Just seek peace and reconciliation within yourself. On the contrary, spiritual liberation means that the spirit must take the initiative, to criticize and deconstruct those false excellences. The purpose is, to establish a truly universal evaluation system. Under this principle, individuals can draw on their own experiences, uncovering transcendental events. Build a new self-identity. Use this as a link to find new interpersonal relationships. Within this community, people and People, they both recognize the independence of each other's personality. Therefore, individual, and thus forever overcome the old environment, fear of being crushed and swallowed up.

Next video, let’s continue discussing, ideas and methods for reconstructing intrinsic value. Finally, let me say, if you have any confusion or questions, want to communicate with me, just contact my email directly. For example, if you want to discuss with me, an article or a paragraph, a video, a social phenomenon, or your diary, please send me the relevant text in advance. I will read it before the formal communication. Or, you want to discuss your life experience with me, confusion and emotion, all are possible. If you are concerned about privacy, security, any questions about payment and communication methods, please also tell me in time. If you are unable to pay or join the membership, please contact me too, I will provide other ways. Please refer to this picture for details. I will post this video, put it in the list of "Psychology and Education". Also recommend to everyone, check out my other videos in this list. Thank you for watching, goodbye!