Yes, it is okay to be different. We have our own insights & perspectives in life. Being different from the rest doesn’t mean that you’re peculiar or weird. There’s nothing wrong with being different as long as you’re being your true identity. No disguise & pretentions.
It’s incredible that you’re different. How boring would this world be if we were all the same? Embrace your own uniqueness, & surround yourself with those who appreciate it.
When we talk about being different, what do we actually mean? Different from what? From what society has told you, you should be? From what your parents or friends think you should be?
The single most important thing you can do for your own happiness is to be true to yourself.
Even if that means “different” from the norm.
Even if other people don’t get it.
Even if other people aren’t happy with it.
Because you can’t live your life to make other people happy, & no one else has to “get it.” You can’t live your life to conform to some stereotype or “norm” that others have set for you.
I’ve always been “different.” I’m mixed blood. All my life I’ve been treated differently for how different I look & how I act/think. I’ve always been a chubby girl but because of my genetics, even when I’m at my ideal weight, I am still bigger than my peers of the same age.
I always get into trouble in school due to my hair colour & my mum had to write explanation letters every few months to explain. Things gets really bumpy sometimes for me growing up.
When I was a teenager, they called me a “freak.” I was bullied. I was laughed at. I was picked on. I was ostracized. And for a long time, it really bothered me. I wanted to fit in. I wanted to be what I thought I was “supposed” to be. And I tried-believe me, I tried.
But it didn’t work. Because it wasn’t who I was, & I wasn’t being true to myself. I was playing a role. And I wasn’t happy.
"You can’t live your life to make other people happy, & no one else has to “get it.” "
Even to date, I still get questions like “What are you?” because people can’t seem to pinpoint my “race”. People greet me in different languages all the time.
People always treat me differently because they think I think differently & I’ve always been told that they don’t quite understand my line of thought. Some say mean things in certain language, assuming I don’t understand.
If I’m being honest, I felt less judged when I was in Ireland, because I felt more blend in. People don’t look at me like I’m a lost giant. They understood me better.
My bestfriend told me that she finally understood how I felt because that’s what she feels now, she feels tiny & as if her thoughts are not well expressed. And that’s when it striked me. We all belong somewhere.
There’s always a place for each of us, if you feel like you’re different & don’t belong, it’s okay, you just haven’t found it yet!
But of course what I felt at that time was temporary & didn’t actually solve how I feel about myself & given that I have to come back to my homeland once I graduated.
I’m in my late 20’s now, & I’m still “different” because that’s who I am. A lot of people, even people who love me, still don’t get it. And that’s OK. Because my own happiness, & being true to myself, is more important than other people “getting it”.
I can’t live my life to please anyone else, & neither can you.
Take charge of your thoughts, especially when it's feelings about yourself, it’s one of the toughest things to do. It can be hard to feel beautiful in your own skin, but you can overcome your negative thoughts & learn to accept yourself for who you are.
It all comes down to self-worth — feeling that you’re truly of value, no matter how you look or act or think or what others think of you.
Rather than validating your worth via others' opinion, find self-worth within yourself to become comfortable with who you are. Believe it or not, no one has all the answers.
"I can’t live my life to please anyone else, & neither can you."
I'm not saying you should try to pretend to be someone you're not, forcing yourself to be comfortable in your skin can allow you to eventually be comfortable for real. Try to accept all of your characteristics, even your "bad" ones.
As you work on self-acceptance, one quality at a time, you will begin to feel more comfortable in your own skin, no matter what the world says or does.
It's never easy to dig deep into your insecurities, but fixing those problematic thoughts & feelings can help you to feel comfortable in your skin. Work on the issues that are making you feel uncomfortable with yourself.
Be around positive people. No one’s perfect, but if you’re surrounded by friends who aren't comfortable in their own skin, it can be hard for you to foster self-acceptance while hearing negative remarks & messages.
Engage in cultural critiques of what exactly you being uncomfortable with yourself does for society: does it keep you silent/voiceless? Does it keep you a consumer, searching for the perfect product to 'fix' yourself?
Pull back the curtain to see what society may be doing to be telling you that you're not okay the way you are, & live radically by telling society that you are absolutely okay the way that you are.
Without confidence it will be hard to recognize your worth & flourish into your best self. When you’re confident, you’ll have no problem standing up for yourself, or pushing yourself to try new things.
How you view yourself & allow others to treat you will be a direct reflection of how you feel about yourself.
Have confidence in being different, standing out from the crowd, & being unique- after all these are things that make up who you are as a person.
Fall in love with yourself & your flaws. Love yourself unconditionally & make it a habit to practice some form of self-care every day. Get comfortable in your own skin.
As long as you’re not hurting anyone else, embrace who you are, love yourself, & live the best life that you can for you. It’s awesome that you’re different. Don’t change for anyone.
Yes. Individuality is important. Self acceptance is important. It’s okay if people don’t like you, you didn’t need them in the first place. Real people accept you & love you unconditionally for who you really are. If they don’t, let them be.
To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.
"Get comfortable in your own skin."
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