I believe there’s an inner struggle that we all share…
On one side we’re striving to find our place… to fit in. On the other, we have this stubborn resistance to anything other than what fits our true selves. But we’re not sure what that is.
For all those survival-based roles in life, you know—work, school, church, friends, politics (ugh)—we want to find our place to fit in.
Is it about sameness? I don’t think so.
Why would we want everyone to be the same?
When you ask the question like that, the answer is obvious. We don’t. Is it that once we find our people, our tribe… our inner-rebel begins to surface?
In Seth’s [Seth Godin’s] Blog: Be the different one, he tells the story of how Leonard Nimoy created Mr. Spock, one of science fiction’s most iconic characters. Yes, Gene Roddenberry imagined and penned Spock… it was Nimoy who gave him life.
A key moment came in one of the first episodes. Everyone on the bridge was freaking out about something or other, and Spock’s line was a simple word: ‘Fascinating.’
Nimoy first delivered it in the same excited, scared tone as everyone else. [Then…]
The director took him aside and said, ‘be the different one.’”
—Seth Godin
From that moment forward, we began to witness the emergence of a truly unique, but completely believable character. Is there at least a tiny bit of Mr. Spock in each of us? Now that’s a fascinating thought, isn’t it?
Why else do we love him? (You do love him, don’t you?)
Designer, artist, and irreverent disrupter, James Victore’s advice is, ‘trust your weirdness.’ He ought to know. He’s built a modest empire by trusting his.
The things that make you weird as a kid will make you great tomorrow.”
—James Victore
So, I don’t have the answers, but I’ve collected a few along the way that seem to make sense. I thought I’d share some here.
Of course, it’s not a one-size-fits-all proposition… but here goes…
- Be patient with yourself, muster a little courage, and keep moving. The courage part isn’t as hard as we tend to make it. If you read interviews or bios of any accomplished hero of yours, if they’re being honest, virtually all will admit that fear never goes away. It’s a matter of becoming comfortable with feeling uncomfortable.
- If you find something interesting, try it on for size and see if it fits. If it does… great! If it doesn’t, that’s great too because now you know it’s not for you.
- Embrace your differences and stop trying to fit in, but rather go for what fits you. In order to get “unstuck,” you have to stop fighting who you are. Own it. You are not like most others and that’s okay. It’s by design.
- My friend, Australian entrepreneur, Scott Anthony says, “For all those who think you are a little bit ‘different’ than everybody else out there… just remember it is the greatest part about you.”
- Some more Victore… “Your goofy quirks, your unique perspective and your crazy opinion are your most powerful tools.”
- Strive to be the best version of YOU! You know—you, only better. If we’re moving forward most days, then that might be enough.
- A good friend of mine, Dan Klein likes to say, “Fly your freak flag!” Fly it every day and fly it high and proud.
Now, go and embrace that weirdness that makes you, uniquely you. See, it’s so much…
Better to paddle your own canoe than hanging out waiting to be invited to board another man’s yacht.”
—@gapingvoid
I’m more of a canoe kind of guy anyway. How about you?
So, what makes you, you… only better? I’d like to hear…
Be untucked.
And, thanks for dropping by today!
Whatever you’re doing… take a sec, scroll down and leave me a comment.
Let’s kick this thing around…
Copyright © 2019 Jeff Meister – All Rights Reserved
Thanks for the shout-out, but it was Crosby, Still & Nash that penned “Almost cut my hair”:
Almost cut my hair
Happened just the other day
It’s gettin’ kind of long
I could’ve said it was in my way
But I didn’t and I wonder why
I feel like letting my freak flag fly
Either way, fly it HIGH and PROUD my friend! Love the “lyrics thief” moniker too!