In my family, I’m known as the “quirky one,” or, sometimes, the “weird one.” Honestly, I don’t know why they see me that way, and for years, I hated it, even if they meant it with all the love in the world.
Until I realized something – being weird meant that I was different, and it was up to me to see it in a good or bad light.
Have you ever felt this way, like being weird or quirky is a bad thing?
Well, let me tell you this: There are many reasons why being unique is a good thing. And the number one reason is that trying to fit into society’s narrow definition of what’s “normal” or “acceptable” is worse.
In the long run, it’s only going to make you miserable. You need to let your true self shine!
How do you do that? How do you shed your inhibitions and celebrate your quirks and all?
In this article, I’ll show you ten ways to embrace your quirky personality and let everyone see how unique you are.
Let’s get started!
1) Know your quirks
The first step to embracing your quirky personality is to identify your unique traits and tendencies.
When I was younger, one of my quirks was speaking like Yoda. I was (and still am) a Star Wars fan, and it just felt so natural for me to lapse into Yoda-speak.
You might have quirks like this, too. For example, are you a big fan of puns? Do you have a strange obsession with collecting antique spoons?
Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that! In fact, these quirks are what make you YOU.
Knowing your quirks will help you appreciate what makes you different from everyone else. And you know what? There’s no need to feel ashamed of it!
2) Accept yourself and embrace imperfection
Identifying your quirks leads us to the next step – acceptance.
Here’s the thing: the world won’t always cooperate and tell you your quirks are endearing. Sometimes, you’ll get laughed at, just as I was when I went around talking like Yoda.
When this happens, don’t do what I did at first – I began to feel ashamed of it and eventually stopped switching my words around.
Now, that might have made me look more normal, but there was a negative effect – it made me feel less like myself.
The truth is, it doesn’t matter what other people think. What matters is that you like yourself, quirks and all. Remember, the key to self-worth is acceptance of yourself and your uniqueness.
So, go ahead and start with self-acceptance. Embrace your imperfections – nobody is perfect, and that’s okay. Once you do this, you’ll feel so much freer!
And remember: Do or do not, there is no try.
3) Don’t take yourself too seriously
Speaking of accepting yourself, I have to make a special note about this: It’s also important to not take yourself too seriously.
Yes, you want to stand firm on being yourself, but at the same time, it’s also healthy to have a sense of humor about your quirks.
Being able to laugh at yourself brings about many benefits: it can help you reframe challenges, fight stress, and be more compassionate toward yourself.
Best of all, it can help you take control of the situation. Think about it – if someone pokes fun at you, it won’t hurt if you yourself can laugh your quirks away!
4) Practice self-care
Remember when I said the world won’t always see your quirks as lovable?
The sad truth is, that’s going to happen a lot. And sometimes, as much as you try to be confident or to have a sense of humor about it, it can wear you down.
But don’t be afraid of rejection. After all, whether you’re quirky or not, rejection is a natural part of life.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s not going to hurt. It most certainly will. No matter how confident we are, rejection will always feel painful.
So, practice self-care daily. Use positive affirmations to remind yourself why you need to live life authentically. Focus on what you like about yourself, and remember that you won’t always be everyone’s cup of tea.
It’s a great way to fight the sting of rejection and any unpleasant comments you might hear from other people.
5) Practice self-expression
At the same time, don’t be afraid to express yourself! You’ve got a wonderful world of creativity in you, just waiting to be unleashed through art, writing, fashion, or whatever medium speaks to you.
See, that’s the beautiful thing about your quirks – only you have them! And if you express yourself fearlessly, you’ll come up with brilliant results no one else will be able to produce!
6) Dig deep into your interests
Back when I was still in school, I had a classmate who loved drawing robots and superheroes, He did it all the way from grade school to the day we graduated from high school.
You can imagine how much bullying he got for still drawing kid stuff in high school, but he ignored the jeers and went on doing what he loved.
And you know what? Today, he owns a successful comic-book store and sells action figures to fellow enthusiasts!
For me, that’s a really fulfilling life – it’s such a great feeling when you see someone following their heart, embracing their quirks, and proving the naysayers wrong!
So, whatever it is you’re into, go ahead – dig deep and see where your quirks can take you!
7) Try new things
That said, don’t forget to stay curious and try out new things.
Embracing your quirks can also mean stepping outside your comfort zone and exploring new experiences.
You see, the journey to embracing your quirks becomes easier when you have an open mind and a joyful attitude toward life.
Take a dance class, go to a new restaurant, or travel to a new destination. You never know what new quirks you might discover along the way!
8) Celebrate your quirks
Here’s another joyful way to embrace your quirks – go all out and celebrate them!
Why not throw a “quirk party” or create a social media hashtag to celebrate your unique personality traits? Share your quirks with the world and let others know that it’s okay to embrace their own.
Who knows, this might even lead you to your tribe – the people who appreciate quirks as much as you do and aren’t afraid to be themselves!
This leads me to my next point…
9) Surround yourself with positivity
Being called “weird” or “quirky” can make you feel like an outcast, or at the very least, someone who’s so different they have nothing in common with anyone else.
Now, in your heart, you know that’s not true. After all, you’re just being yourself…how can that be a bad thing?
But if you don’t have anyone rooting for you, it can certainly feel that way.
That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with people who accept and appreciate you for who you are. Find like-minded individuals or engage in activities that make you feel good.
Positive and nurturing experiences help us form a healthy sense of self, especially when you’re still learning how to embrace your quirky side.
As for those who don’t get you, that’s okay…you don’t need to make them like you.
Maybe you can approach their rejection from a compassionate perspective instead, understanding that they may simply not be open-minded yet to accommodate someone like you in their lives.
10) Be kind to yourself
Lastly, I’d like to leave you with this thought: be your own best friend.
Embracing your quirks can be a journey, so be patient with yourself. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have a bad day or struggle to accept a certain quirk.
This can launch you into a cycle of self-blame and negative self-talk. And believe me, our inner critical voice can really be strong and powerful!
When that happens, stop and think – what would you say to your best friend if this happened to them? I bet you’d only speak words of kindness and encouragement, wouldn’t you?
All too often, we don’t think of ourselves in this light, which is why it’s so easy to say things like, “I’m so stupid!” or “I can’t do anything right!”
So, when the going gets tough and embracing your quirks can feel tiring instead of uplifting, take a step back and remember to treat yourself as kindly as you do others.
Final thoughts
Embracing your quirky personality can be a liberating and empowering experience. But it does take a great deal of courage to block out that fear of other people’s judgment.
Hopefully, this list has shown you some ways to get started on your journey of self-acceptance.
Keep accepting and appreciating yourself for who you are – as long as you’re not hurting anybody, you’ll feel free to enjoy life just being your perfectly imperfect self!
Remember, your quirks are what make you unique and interesting. And you know what? You might be called all sorts of things, but “basic” definitely won’t be one of them!