Recently updated on: February 26, 2024
It's a great privilege to have worked in the corporate setup in Metro Manila before returning to my home province because I learned many things and applied the best practices in life.
I learned what I liked and disliked in Manila and compared the pros and cons of living in the province.
While living in the province is great because of the slow pace and low cost of living, I noticed something strange in how some people think - the small-town mentality.
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What is Small-Town Mentality?
As the name suggests, this mindset occurs in small towns or provinces that seem like what they have, know, or experience is all there is.
People with a small-town mentality are often stagnant, uninterested in other ideas, and only care about what is happening within their small community. It's like that is their whole world.
Though they are still part of a wider culture, I can't help but analyze why some people remain steady and complacent.
Urban Dictionary defined small-town mentality better and used a different term, small-town syndrome. They described small-town syndrome as someone who has lived in a small town for so long that they can feel entitled and act as if there is nothing much outside their town.
I usually notice this with people who never left home and are generally working in government agencies. There is an eerie sense of entitlement and a systemic culture that holds them still.
Big Fish in a Small Pond
People with a small-town mentality think that what is happening around them is the most important thing and what is happening outside is not their concern.
They also think that since they are good or great in their small town, they are already the best.
People with small-town mentality are like big fishes in a small pond, not knowing that there is a vast ocean just outside their boundary with a plethora of bigger fishes that are far better than them.
It is also why some people peaked in high school and never really came close to what they are truly capable of because they choose to stay close to home and never try venturing outside.
The Dangers of Having a Small-Town Mentality
1. You will not grow to your true potential.
They say that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with, so if you're always with people with a small-town mentality, chances are, you'll be like them (if not yet).
Since you also don't know what you don't know or think what you know is all there is to know, you will remain complacent and be trapped in your current situation even if you have the power to change.
That's also why I usually say that the people who typically read my blog are also on their journey toward self-improvement. In contrast, the people who need new information are generally immersed in social media and gossip.
2. You will miss out on many opportunities.
Having a small-town mindset is a great limiter. I saw people with a lot of potential but chose to stay in their hometowns because it's safe and familiar.
I'm not saying that they should leave and never return, but I believe they must see that other things outside their small space will bring them better opportunities.
Afterward, if they want to return, they can. Actually, they should return to use their knowledge to help expand other people's horizons.
As they say, if you want to improve your life and your family's life, there must be a generation that will take the leap.
3. Gossip is a way of life.
The gossip culture is one of the worst things about people with small-town mindsets.
Since they live in a seemingly confined space, what is happening around them is the only reality.
Some think it is their duty to the community to "share" what's happening in other people's lives, not knowing they are gossiping.
However, if you point out that they are "mahilig sa tsismis" or "tsismoso/tsismosa," they will get mad.
However, they don't seem to have any problem being called "marites," even if the meaning is the same. Maybe it's caused by the weight of the words.
4. You will be afraid to make a change.
If you've lived in your hometown or home province for so long, there is a big chance that you'll be absorbed by the prevailing system or "systema."
Some people even use influence to get ahead, not knowing they are already practicing corruption because, as they say, it is what it is or "Ganito na talaga. Wala nang magagawa."
Change is difficult, and if you don't make a conscious effort to move away from having a small-town mentality, then you will be trapped. Sadly, you may even pass that mindset to the next generation.
5. You will pass that mindset to the next generation.
People with a small-time mentality don't know that they have that syndrome because they do not know that there are other things to know. So, when they become parents, they pass it on to their children, starting another cycle.
While I think social media can contribute to improving and moving away from this toxic mindset by following good people who share valuable knowledge, unfortunately, people don't use social media for education. They often use it for entertainment, which is a wasted opportunity.
How to Grow Beyond Small-Town Mentality
1. Leave your hometown, even for a couple of years.
Leaving your hometown can be scary, but that is a small price to pay for yourself and your family's future.
You need to live away from home and meet other people from all sorts of backgrounds, like in the melting pot of the Philippines - Metro Manila, where people from different backgrounds and cultures converge and meet.
Afterward, suppose you think that you already have enough and learn more about the broader world. In that case, you can return to your hometown and share your wisdom and experiences with others.
2. Travel and immerse in other people's culture.
Traveling is one of the best things we can do to improve how we see ourselves relative to the world. By traveling, we can see other people, experience their culture, and understand them better.
If you have the capacity, travel. But don't just be a tourist. Instead, be an explorer. Learn about them and their culture, eat their food, talk to them, and widen your perspective.
3. Read and watch documentaries about the world.
If you don't have the money to travel, then read books and watch documentaries instead.
You can learn many things from these informative avenues to improve your outlook on other cultures. Use social media to learn, not just to be entertained.
Final Thought
Having a small-town mentality is dangerous because it limits your true potential. It also shrinks your world because what you often see in your daily life is what you think is the reality of the world.
However, if we veer away from this mentality, then we can start to be kinder, wiser, and more understanding about other people and why they do what they do.