In the age of trends and mainstream ideas, it has become a rare occurrence to ever meet a person who would pique our interest or tickle our curiosity, someone who would strike us as different and original. Rarely do we meet someone who leaves a strong, memorable impression on us or make us think what it is about this person that makes them so interesting or unusual. In fact, what is more common, is that we meet the same idea of a person over and over, just in different bodies.
It is hard to accept the fact that we might be becoming replicas of the same thing; every human being, one way or another, wants to think of themselves as different or unique. However, it is hard not to notice copies of us walking around everywhere we go.
Everyone is wearing burgundy just because it’s trendy, we hang out at the same places not out of interest, but out of FOMO. We buy products just because they are hailed as perfect by every blogger, we moved out of our neighborhoods just because everyone else is moving towards closed communities and compounds; the same holiday destinations, the same wedding venues, the same high-end brands, even the same business ideas, and the list goes on and on.
From Inspiration to Imitation
With the wider exposure we have now as social media became an integrated aspect of our day-to-day life, we came across hundreds of ideas with every scroll. Inspiration is now at our fingertips, be it in fashion, art, creativity, business ideas, wellness topics, or others. As humans, we find comfort in familiarity and we’d rather go for something tried, tested, and proven successful or likable rather than try something totally different. We choose to dine at a certain restaurant just because we saw good reviews about it, and we dress up all similarly, just because some fashion bloggers or models made this outfit idea a statement. Take for instance the rise of podcasts, the idea is used and abused, just because it proved itself successful, and so, it has created an easy shortcut for everyone who wants to do something guaranteed to gain popularity. From big ideas to small details and consumed goods: matcha; everyone is suddenly drinking matcha not because it is recently discovered, but rather because it is recently hyped. We are prone to advocate certain ideologies just because society has become more accepting of them, and so we have no fear of igniting controversy over the things we stand for and say out loud. More or less, in both similar and different ways, we lose a bit of our authentic self and our originality.
Eccentric or Original?
Sometimes we come across people we deem eccentric just because they make different choices whether in how they carry themselves, how they live their lives, or how they dress up. Some may refuse to be part of the system or yet another cog in the wheel. Some may choose to quit their job to become nomads, some just want to do arts, and some go on a journey of self-discovery in their 40s. This type of people strike us as eccentric or unorthodox, just because they choose to do things differently, their way. They don’t care about conforming to social norms and expectations, and are not scared to be called unconventional.
Don’t Blend In, Stand Out
Blending in is easy, but standing out is not. As humans, we rather stick to what is familiar and conventional. We barely swim against the current and rather go with the flow because it grants us safety and immunity against being judged as crazy, lunatic, or unorthodox. The way the world operates nowadays wants people to blindly obey, follow, and conform. It’s not really in favor of free thinkers or brave speakers. The more you strike controversy, the more you are frowned upon. But then, who are we really if we are a copy of everyone else? Why would we matter in the middle of hundreds and thousands? What impact would we leave and what difference will we bring? And for this very reason, you shouldn’t really follow the crowd, on all levels: choose the fashion that fits you, watch the movies that inspire you, listen to the music that pleases you, and break free from peer pressure and trends that don’t align with who you are. Be an original thinker and don’t feed your brain with ideas, that deep down in your heart, you don’t believe in. Question. Analyze. Criticize. Reflect, deeper.
In the end, one thing you cannot afford to lose is your authentic self. Break free from the mold, steer away from the usual and expected. Be who you are, unapologetically. Don’t be afraid to be different; they may call you ‘strange’, they may call you ‘weird’, you may attract more haters, but most importantly you will live life your way, unfettered, and when you look back you won’t feel you lost yourself for nothing.
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