I have been trying to look at society too. And I recall that not so long ago I envisioned society as a monster.

And then I discovered to my horror, that the monster was in my head. . .

I like that.Very true indeed.
I think one must be able to rise above the society's expectations and create their own standard,after all, we are the society.
Just be useful where you are and live a legacy.
Is my motto.

Hehe nice,
Do it, but be prepared for the outcome.
Here is what,many who did, left marks in the world yet they never 'belonged'.
That is what standing out means.Being different,not agreeing with everybody or frequenting places where everybody else frequents.
It helps one get rid of a crowd mentality,think individually and live a stress free life.
'It also takes a strong willed individual to be able to do that since you may lose a crowd.

Quest I always ask myself before I set out to do anything is,Does it ADD any value to my life so that I can become a better person or does it only make me approved by the crowd?

Rising above means learning to say No when your body,time,pocket and crowd shouts Yes.

you know tycho whenever I read your posts one person comes to mind.>Hamburglar.
You analyse a lot which is not bad.

But using that example.Found myself deliberately in places I swore I could never set foot in courtesy of friends and that is where the battle of the mind comes in.
Prob with me is, I always think about 'the after and never now.
Questions like what happens after this,will I regret,how will I be like tomorrow,
Will I be sober,will my dignity be intact and all that? Now that destroys the craze, cz if it's unpredictable,the interest goes.
I fear losing myself more than anything else.
But look here,as a man thinketh so is he.
The commander/control is your mind not body.
The body only follows instructions even though it wants to do stuff against your will.
I think they can be in harmony if the mind is strong.