Roselle Umlas
At some point in our lives, we’ve experienced how society has placed us into boxes or categorized us into stereotypes.
Many of us have been raised with a certain mindset imposed on us by our parents and society in general.
Have you ever been told, “You should be a doctor/engineer/lawyer”? Or been told what you can and can’t be in life?
It can be tempting to try and fit into these boxes. After all, fitting in allows you to blend in with everyone else.
It sounds so agreeable and fuss-free and peaceful…and dreadfully boring.
Here’s the truth—if you’re simply keeping your head down and trying to fit in, you’re not living your best life.
The poet Maya Angelou put it right when she said, “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”
Why not embrace your individuality and uniqueness? If you’re not sure this sounds like a good idea, here are ten reasons that should convince you to do so.
1) Being unique allows you to stand out in a crowd and be noticed
Picture this—a row of black umbrellas, all of them the same model and shade of black.
Then, in the middle, a bright red umbrella.
Your eye will naturally be drawn to the red umbrella, right?
That’s what being unique does for you—it shines a light on your special qualities and sets you apart from the rest.
You can’t stand out when you look and behave like everyone else.
But when you’re being your unique self, people will notice you and remember you better.
This benefit goes beyond the social and personal aspects of your life; it also allows you to achieve more professionally.
Think about it—do companies prefer to hire clones? Definitely not. Studies show they look for unique applicants who bring fresh and new ideas.
2) It lets you express your individuality and creativity
Embracing your uniqueness gives you the freedom to be as creative as you want. You can express your personality through a style you’ve curated yourself, one that meets nobody else’s standards but yours.
Originality and creativity also lead to innovation. Taking the road less traveled isn’t always comfortable, but it’s absolutely rewarding.
You’ll feel so fulfilled when you discover how much you can do if you follow your instincts and develop your own perspectives.
A side benefit of this? No copyright infringement. Having your own style means you won’t be copying someone else’s.
3) It can make you more confident and self-assured
Being unique can certainly give you a sense of confidence and self-assurance.
When you stand out from others and be your authentic self, it can give you a sense of pride and make you feel more confident in your skin.
On the other hand, if you feel pressure to conform to certain standards or expectations and cannot be your unique self, it can diminish your confidence.
Ultimately, feeling confident is about owning your character, being comfortable with who you are, and expressing your true self.
4) Being unique can help you develop a strong personal brand and identity
A personal brand is essentially how you present and promote yourself to others. It’s not just about appearances; it also includes your values, skills, and personality.
When you embrace your unique qualities and use them to differentiate yourself from others, it can help you build a solid personal brand that stands out and is memorable.
This can be particularly useful if you’re looking to establish yourself in a particular field or industry, as it can help you attract attention and build a reputation.
However, it’s important to remember that developing a personal brand isn’t just about promoting your unique qualities. It’s also about authenticity and consistency in the way you present yourself.
5) It can make you more interesting and engaging to others
My personal style used to be a plain shirt and jeans because I wanted something fuss-free, which wouldn’t call attention to me.
As I grew older, though, I started feeling the need to express myself in other ways—sometimes a complete departure from my boring t-shirt-and-jeans combo.
I started wearing printed tops and dresses featuring paintings by my favorite artists. Once I did that, people would do a double-take when they saw me.
Some even came up and started a conversation with me, with my outfit as a jumping-off point. I’ve had conversations about art, which surprisingly led to deeper discussions about life and philosophy.
Isn’t that amazing?
The point is, embracing your individuality and expressing yourself creatively sparks people’s curiosity, and they see you as an interesting person worth getting to know.
6) Being unique allows you to be true to yourself and live a more authentic life
An authentic life is one with sincerity at its core—you say what you mean and keep your word.
It’s one where you understand that beauty is more than skin-deep and that it’s what’s inside that really matters. This means you have more depth and wisdom than people preoccupied with appearances.
It also lets you live without the stress of pleasing everyone, which, as we all know, is impossible.
When you’re unapologetically yourself, you do away with all of that and reserve your energy for the important things.
7) It can help you build a sense of community and belonging with like-minded individuals
There’s no doubt about it—a life lived with purpose, boldness, and freedom is a more authentic life.
And when you live with authenticity and sincerity, you develop true and lasting relationships with others.
Celebrating your unique qualities makes you more approachable and relatable to others with similar interests or experiences.
This can help you build connections with like-minded people—your tribe—and create a sense of belonging.
Plus, when you can be your authentic self and showcase your unique perspective, you can inspire and encourage others to do the same.
This, in turn, creates a sense of community around shared values and experiences.
Ultimately, building a sense of community is about finding common ground and creating a supportive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.
8) Being unique gives you the power to say no and establish your boundaries
Trying to blend in brings with it an eagerness to please and a fear of ostracism. You feel pressured to “go along to get along,” sacrificing your own comfort and peace of mind.
But when you are determined to live life on your terms and be your own person, you have the power to refuse the things you don’t want to do and the people you don’t want to engage with.
You can express your boundaries firmly and freely because you want to make your decisions based on your own free will, not the expectations of other people.
9) It can contribute to your overall happiness and well-being
Embracing what makes you different opens you up to a general feeling of well-being and contentment.
Letting go of the need to be this certain person or maintain a particular image feels so liberating. You’ll enjoy the ease and comfort of living from the heart, just effortlessly being you.
Pursuing your own path also cultivates a love of learning, which keeps you thriving and excited about the future.
You’ll feel a zest and passion for living, knowing that life has many possibilities and surprises in store for you.
Best of all, you’ll have fewer regrets. Since you make your own decisions based on what you feel is best for you, you’ll feel at peace even if it turns out to be the wrong decision.
It certainly beats feeling regretful that you’ve lived your life following other people’s expectations.
10) Being unique can give you a sense of purpose in life
Lastly, here’s the most important reason why being different is a good thing—it can give your life a sense of purpose and direction.
You might not know it, but you can break stereotypes and be an inspiration to other people. When they see you living with courage and confidence, they can imagine themselves doing that, too.
Moms Mabley was one such person.
Back in the 1930s, female comics were relatively unheard of. But Moms broke out of the box society had placed her in and became the first female comic to perform onstage at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Since then, countless other female stand-up comedians have followed in her footsteps and embraced their unique talent for making people laugh, gender notwithstanding.
And the world is so much richer for it.
When you shed your inhibitions and celebrate the unique person you are, you open people’s minds and change their perspectives. Simply put, you contribute so much to the world.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, this list has shown you that your unique personality is a gift you should celebrate.
Listen to your heart and decide to be your own person, trusting that you bring something to the table that no one else can.
We all have roles and our own strengths, and when we embrace them, we complement one another. Remember, it takes all kinds of people to make a diverse and beautiful world.
