In a world that exceeds a population of 7 billion people, you may find yourself wondering how to stand out from the rest? Well that’s a pretty common feeling and whilst some people shy away from the crowds, others are struggling to find a sense of individuality and uniqueness.
Being unique helps to give us a sense of self-worth and importance. I most certainly seek to maintain my individualism and try to hold on to anything that makes me…… well me!
Here are a few tips to help you find your point of difference……
- Know that you are already unique: There are so many factors that contribute to making us who we are. Your genetics, your experiences, personality and outlook can only be a result of you. Recognize what it is that makes you unique and embrace it.
- Don’t ‘try’ to be normal: Naturally as humans, we try to fit in with others. This is often a natural reaction to avoid criticism or looking strange. It’s generally a ‘stay safe’ reaction. Be mindful of your tendency to try fit in, and where it may be in face hindering your uniqueness.
- Don’t try to be ‘ab-normal’: This might be trying to ‘fake’ something that you’re not in order to stand out or be ‘better’ than those around you. Sometimes you might actually look ‘weird’. Being unique is being your authentic, genuine self. Acknowledge and embrace it.
- Be confident: Confidence isn’t about proving yourself; it is about being content just the way you are. Being confident is trusting that you ‘good enough’ and reflecting that in the way you carry yourself.
- Be self-reliant: It is impossible to live your life without the assistance or interaction of those around you. However there is a difference between enjoying the company of others, and relying on others to fulfil a certain personal outcome. This might include depending on others for self-benefit; i.e. popularity, entertainment, comfort or money. When you rely on others, you limit your true potential and find yourself confined to that person. Being self-reliant can be hard to attain, yet is a valuable life-long skill.
- Reflect on what ‘being unique’ means to you: This inspires you to reflect on your values and what you feel is uniquely important to you. This will help you to take action to embracing (and loving) your unique self.
- Identify your values: This is about discovering ‘who you are’. Assess whether your current values match what being unique means to you. This might include friends, relationships, human ethics or values. This exercise will help you remember that your values are unique to you, and highlight areas that you might want to improve.
- Fight your insecurities: Sadly we often develop insecurities over what others think of us. Our insecurities hinder our path to finding our true selves. Being aware of them can help you to see that they are unnecessary obstacles and seek ways to overcome them.
- Determine your goals: Once you’ve identified your values, it’s important to determine your goals. This may be working towards what you value. It will give you a direction to move forwards and start making necessary changes.
- Be aware of your emotions: This requires you to identify your emotions that are a result of you and not the people around you. It can also help to be aware of how your emotions can cloud your judgement / perception of yourself, and find way to see things as they really are, or for the ‘greater good’.
- Be assertive, yet open-minded: Know your opinions yet be open to suggestion of others. It is important to be ‘mindful’ or conscientious of those around you and embracing each and everyone’s differences (including your own). Just as you are unique, so is everyone else.
- Have the power to think independently: Be mindful not to give in to ‘peer pressure’ when the influences are there. Feel comfortable with forming your own opinions and opposing views to others, if you feel necessary.
- Dress for yourself: Avoid dressing to impress those around you. Your clothing is an opportunity to reflect who you are. By conforming to the fashions, you are not embracing who you are. This may reflect on your values of self-love and highlight any potential insecurity you might have.
- Stand up for yourself: Standing up for yourself does not mean being opinionated or stubborn yet means you are being true to your values and defending your true self…. (when others question it). Standing up for yourself is an important lifelong tool, and enables you to feel more self-confident when dealing with confronting situations.
- Ignore the haters: It is impossible to be liked by everyone and seeking that acceptance will only leave you disappointed. Just because someone doesn’t like you, doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. If you truly love yourself, you won’t seek and rely on validation from others:
- Try new things: This involves being open minded to new activities. Overcoming fears and embracing new experiences can be empowering, help you lead a more ‘interesting life’ and develop into your best self.
- Educate yourself: Attempt to learn new things. Expanding your knowledge is empowering and can help you to have enlightening intellectual conversations with people you usually wouldn’t interact with. Have you heard the saying; ‘knowledge is power’? Being knowledgeable, can help open many new doors for you, increase independence and gain a lot more respect from those around you.
- Embrace your uniqueness: This does not mean going out of your way to be different, yet this means making a point of trying to be your true self around people you would usually refrain from. This will help build your confidence and may prove to you that others don’t really think about you as much as you think they do!
- Do things that you sincerely enjoy: Lastly, go out of your way to reward yourself. You deserve to be happy just as much as anyone else. This will help you to remember your value and that you are, unique, special and worthy of being happy – just as is everyone else!
Examining these steps can be an extremely enlightening and rewarding experience. Writing this article enabled me to assess my thinking and that I am, and will always be extremely unique whatever my circumstances. There are certain tools that can help walk you through identifying your sense of self. Founder of The Coaching Institute, Sharon Pearson has developed a unique program tailored to examine each individual at a personal level. The Your Success Program helps you to take an up close and personal look at yourself and essentially help you discover your best self. As mentioned in this article, once you are able to achieve self-love, confidence and a deeper self-awareness, you will realize that you are and always will be a truly unique individual.
Connect with us at (03) 9645 9945 and discover how Your Success can start you on your journey to discovering your unique self!
