Everyone is raised to emulate. As children we copy words and actions, as teenagers we copy ideas and personalities. At first you copy to survive, later you copy to be accepted.
Even consider what "accepted" here means. Teenagers copy to be accepted, which is to avoid being ostracized. Animals ostracized from their group-cultures often means death - perhaps to young adults subconsciously it means the same thing.
The Transition
Taking into consideration that well adjusted adults do not emulate and children do emulate, realize that there is a transition somewhere. At some point, consciously or not, people realize they have all the tools to survive and no longer need to emulate (or at least significantly less).
Though figuring this out is an almost existential discovery, no one ever says that's what part of being adult is.
The Problem
Some people don't learn to stop emulating. They do not overcome the deep-rooted idea that emulation = survival. And while true and necessary at first-life, your ability to be an adult stuck with this idea is hindered.
Consider, that instead of struggling through life-problems and overcoming them through self discovery one may look for answers in how others overcame their obstacles, and while people do survive this way, learning and evolution does not occur. And when eventually a unique obstacle emerges where there is nothing to emulate, those without previously learned survival skills can fail.
Often, the most broken people are stuck in assimilation cycles.
The Solution
Realizing life has no rule book or plan for you allows you to stop emulating and take the reigns to shape your life.
This distinction is profound.
Some helpful questions in determining assimilative behavior:
Are you a leader?
Do you fit into a common archetype or "group" of people?
Can you make a lot of broad definitional statements about yourself?
Do you enjoy approval?
Do you have a lot of contrary ideas to those around you?
Some people don't learn to stop emulating. They do not overcome the deep-rooted idea that emulation = survival. And while true and necessary at first-life, your ability to be an adult stuck with this idea is hindered.
Consider, that instead of struggling through life-problems and overcoming them through self discovery one may look for answers in how others overcame their obstacles, and while people do survive this way, learning and evolution does not occur. And when eventually a unique obstacle emerges where there is nothing to emulate, those without previously learned survival skills can fail.
Often, the most broken people are stuck in assimilation cycles.
The Solution
Realizing life has no rule book or plan for you allows you to stop emulating and take the reigns to shape your life.
This distinction is profound.
Some helpful questions in determining assimilative behavior:
Are you a leader?
Do you fit into a common archetype or "group" of people?
Can you make a lot of broad definitional statements about yourself?
Do you enjoy approval?
Do you have a lot of contrary ideas to those around you?