Jelena Dincic
If you’ve always been stubborn, even as a kid, if you’ve always wanted to do things your way and hated being told what to do, it could be a sign of your independent nature.
If you’re someone who prefers to take the road less traveled – even though it may be unpopular, less convenient, and full of obstacles – it’s because you’re a non-conformist, like me.
Let’s look at the 11 key traits of people who walk their own path and see how many you can check off.
1) Independence
Walking your own path in life definitely requires a degree of independence.
People who are dependent on others rely on them for directions on how they should live their lives.
What’s more, they really need other people’s approval and validation.
Independent people, on the other hand, trust their own judgment and are comfortable making decisions by themselves. They certainly don’t need others to approve.
From what they’ll study to who they’ll date and where they’ll work, independent people won’t let anyone tell them how to live their lives.
Does that sound like you?
2) Self-awareness
The truth is that it’s not always easy to walk your own path.
A lot of people are unable to do so because they don’t really know who they are or what they want to do in life.
That’s why they’ll follow the crowd and take other people’s advice on what path to take.
It’s only when someone is self-aware and has a deep understanding of who they are, what they want, and what really matters to them, that they can march to the beat of a different drummer.
In other words, self-knowledge guides their choices and actions.
3) Confidence
As I already mentioned, it’s not easy to be the black sheep.
It takes a lot of confidence to be your own person and say no to what is expected and conventional.
It’s like when you’re a kid and everyone is playing video games but you prefer to read books.
You could end up being teased and called “smarty pants” and “bookworm” but if you’re happy in your own skin, you’ll keep being yourself and you won’t stop reading.
It takes confidence to follow your own path and not conform.
4) Courage
It also takes courage.
Choosing to follow a unique path often means venturing into the unknown.
Not having a clear roadmap can be intimidating. Courage is what allows you to step forward despite not knowing what lies ahead.
It also helps you face your fears and step out of your comfort zone which is something you need to do if you want to walk your own path.
5) Resilience
Look, setbacks, challenges, and failures are an inevitable part of any journey – especially a unique one.
So when you’re someone who walks their own path in life, you need to be strong and resilient.
- That means not letting obstacles keep you from going forward.
- It means not quitting when you fail and instead, looking at failures as learning experiences.
- And it also means staying strong and not letting what other people think get to you.
6) Open-mindedness
Being open-minded goes hand-in-hand with walking your own path in life.
On the one hand, close-minded people take the safe and easy road. They stick to what they know because they’re not ready to face any big challenges.
On the other hand, open-minded people are not afraid of a challenge because they’re open to new ideas and experiences.
They’re eager to consider alternative viewpoints and have no problem adapting their plans when they need to.
7) Curiosity, love of adventure, individuality, and passion
So, what drives people to say, “I’m gonna do things my way and walk my own path?”
Curiosity, love of adventure, individuality, and maybe most importantly, passion.
You see, passion is the driving force behind many remarkable accomplishments. It’s what fuels people’s dedication and commitment.
For example, say that you come from a family of doctors. Naturally, it would be expected of you to follow in their footsteps and study medicine.
But here’s the thing, you have a passion for music and you just can’t imagine doing anything less in life.
Your love for music is so strong that you risk disappointing your family and decide to study music and pursue your dream instead of becoming a doctor.
8) Authenticity
If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s that people who walk their own path are authentic.
They don’t compromise their values or pretend to be someone they’re not, even if it means going against the grain (just look at the example in the previous point).
Now, it’s not always easy for them and sometimes it can be lonely, but at least they can sleep soundly knowing that they’ve stayed true to themselves.
Know what I mean?
9) Optimism
People who walk their own path need to have a positive outlook, otherwise, when things get tough, there’s nothing to help them keep going.
Optimism is what makes people believe that they can succeed. It helps them overcome various challenges and stay motivated, especially when the road ahead is uncertain.
10) Skepticism
It turns out that a lot of independent people who do things their way do so because they don’t accept the status quo.
“Who says things have to be that way?” and “Why should I do what is expected of me?” are just some of the questions they ask.
They take everything with a pinch of salt and don’t accept things at face value; they’ll often challenge authority and may even have a reputation for being rebellious.
11) Self-reliance
Finally, walking your own path often means doing things yourself.
I mean, you can’t expect to be independent and do things your own way if you aren’t self-reliant and capable of handling challenges by yourself.
The bottom line
Walking your own path is about living a unique and authentic life that aligns with your values, passions, and goals.
While it can be challenging, walking your own path can lead to personal growth, fulfillment, and the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the world.
Ultimately, it’s a journey of self-discovery and self-expression, where the pursuit of happiness and purpose takes precedence over conformity.
