Another pernicious effect of mimetic desire is the increased competition: If you desire what other people desire, it will be harder to get it (basic offer and demand law). And the more you desire something through increased mimetic desire, the less you have the mental space to develop your own taste/sensibility/values.
So instead of truly knowing what would make you happy, you throw yourself into a medical of financial career that you don't really want. Instead of developping your own taste in terms of women, you go for the ones everybody wants (the IG face/body/style archetypes). So instead of winning and being happy in your own lane, you compete within crowded sectors to - maybe - end up getting something you don't really want and won't make you happy. This attitude usually leads to crab bucket mindset, which prevents you further from getting out of this trap.
Of course no one says that you should not experience mimetic desire (it is impossible anyway); but as you said, you have to be conscious of it and use it to achieve your own goals, instead of ending up achieving the dreams of others.
Great article Benjamin !
Another pernicious effect of mimetic desire is the increased competition: If you desire what other people desire, it will be harder to get it (basic offer and demand law). And the more you desire something through increased mimetic desire, the less you have the mental space to develop your own taste/sensibility/values.
So instead of truly knowing what would make you happy, you throw yourself into a medical of financial career that you don't really want. Instead of developping your own taste in terms of women, you go for the ones everybody wants (the IG face/body/style archetypes). So instead of winning and being happy in your own lane, you compete within crowded sectors to - maybe - end up getting something you don't really want and won't make you happy. This attitude usually leads to crab bucket mindset, which prevents you further from getting out of this trap.
Of course no one says that you should not experience mimetic desire (it is impossible anyway); but as you said, you have to be conscious of it and use it to achieve your own goals, instead of ending up achieving the dreams of others.