David Rendall’s FREAK FACTOR basically talks about what makes the everyday person a normal human. It does not come out and say that but that is the interpretation I gained from it. His primary point he tries to get across in the manifesto is, there is nothing wrong with you. Weaknesses are important clues to your strengths. You find success when you find the right fit. You need to match your unique characteristics to situations that reward those qualities. Your weaknesses make you different. They make you a freak and it’s good to be a freak. I really agree with this manifesto and find it empowering. I am tired of everyone trying to fit in and be what they think they should be and be afraid of being weird or different. If the world did not have any weird or different people the world would be so immensely boring it is unbelievable. If enjoying himself or herself makes someone out to be “weird” or a “freak” just because someone does not understand or appreciate the activity this certain ‘weird’ person is doing makes the rest of the people a disgrace. People feel the need to title and demean and belittle people because they do not understand them and do not agree with the things they do. They do not try and understand their activities or ways of life or even appreciate them they just decide to label them freaks.
His first topic I am going to discuss is flawless: there’s nothing wrong with you. He starts off by saying “there is nothing wrong with you. each of us has unique characteristics. these characteristics have both positive and negative features. these features, which we usually refer to as strengths and weaknesses, cannot be separated. they come in pairs. the positive and negative elements are inextricably linked.” This makes so much sense to me and I wish the entire American culture would see the world like this. If they did I feel that life would be so much more interesting and exciting. Also there would be less people taking needless drugs like aderall or zaynex to fix their ‘problems’. This drugs are prescribed to people who think they need them because doctors have told them they do. There is no way to prove someone has these specific mental problems to ensure they need the drugs but I feel many people are just convinced they need them when they really do not. Not to say everyone does not need them because many people do have diseases that require them but I feel not as many people need them.
The next point that I found interesting was Foundation: build on your strengths. The first three points he mentions are…
1. It feels good. It is enjoyable and energizing to work on your strengths.
2. You have the greatest potential in your areas of strength. these are your natural gifts and provide you with your best chances for success.
3. Your strengths make up for your weaknesses. Well-developed strengths often make your weaknesses irrelevant.
I liked this part because it is a very motivational and self-motivating. It shows that even your weakness can be strengths and that everything can be made benefitial.
The last point I enjoyed was freak: the power of uniqueness. I like this because it made being unique an empowering quality not a negative one.
The last thing I will discuss is my own top strength and own top weakness. My top strength I believe is my versatility. I believe if I am in any situation in any circumstance I would be able to handle myself. I also feel like I could accomplish any task if I put my mind to it enough no matter what the task was. My greatest weakness must have to be my overconfidence. I always am pushing my limits and expecting I can do more and more. Sometimes this is good but others it can end up with hollow promises or hurting myself.
Overall I believe this was a very good passage and really made me think and appreciate the ‘freak’ within everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment