Growing up, being weird or different probably didn't feel good. A lot of energy was spent trying to fit in and be normal. Being Taiwanese and already looking different, all I wanted was to have the same lunches as everyone else, not my egg fried rice in a thermos!
As children, fitting in makes makes sense for reasons of safety. When you're at school, being different can expose us to ridicule, losing friends, or facing bullies when our social circles are limited. And we're shorter of skill and confidence to represent ourselves and our own interests.
With time passing, as adults we can see that being a little weird is actually pretty normal.🙃 We all have desires, interests, and oddities that make us distinctly different. If you're fortunate, you have people around you who accept and embrace those unique aspects of yourself. Yet, to avoid scrutiny, there are still many things most of us feel uncomfortable exploring or sharing with others. This is sad when these things might contribute to our hopes and dreams.
The conversation today is about questioning this instinct and challenging ourselves to seek the things that light us up despite our concerns.
Here are some examples of things you might be holding yourself back from pursuing:
🎨An artistic pursuit, like dancing, acting, painting, or singing, even though you think you’re the wrong shape, or you’ll be terrible at it, and that feels embarrassing.
💼Investing in a skill set or qualification, or pursuing a job or dream business, that doesn't fit with your current public persona.
👥Sharing a new identity or personal history with people, so they can properly acknowledge the true you.
👗Dressing exactly the way you want, when you want.
🌟Diving into an unusual hobby that’s daggy/uncool/super weird.
🌍Seeking out new people and experiences that excite you.
💖Owning your sexual preferences and finding pleasure in different places.
To find these unique sweet spots kept in the shadows, it might take some deeper questioning, exploration, and potentially professional support. But for your efforts, it's worth it. If we can take a step back from societal expectations, there are infinite possibilities for our lives. Writing this, I'm also challenging my own inclinations, thinking about what I might be shying away from because of the context around me.
Does it feel like something is missing in your life that you’re not honoring? It's your story, and you have the power to write it. Be the original, baby!
