Fitting In
You can't fit a square peg in a round hole.
Why would you want to "fit in" when you were made to stand out?
Why would you want to "fit in" when you were made to stand out?
I'm sure you've heard those sayings before. They've been weighing on my mind ever since I had lunch with a friend who indicated that while I am always encouraging, upbeat and supportive, I just don't quite fit in. He's right. I've never really fit in, even as a child. I wasted alot of years watering down who I was just so I could try to "fit in". Everyone wants to be liked, but the reality is that even when you're well liked, you may not always "fit in".
Which brings me to the question of the day: Why do we try so hard to fit in?
We're all unique. We're wired to be different; from the way we look, the way we think, how we process information, how we act, etc. Those tratis make us different from the start. Over the years, I've learned that when we try to fit in, on some unconscious level, we alter something or several things about ourselves so others will feel comfortable and accept us. Why? Is it because we don't want to stand out among our friends and peers? Is it because we're afraid our differences will make us "less than"? When we change ourselves to fit in, we're settling. Settling for what others say we deserve. We diminish our own worth for the sake of making others feel better. Again, why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we feel we must water down who we are?
Which brings me to the question of the day: Why do we try so hard to fit in?
We're all unique. We're wired to be different; from the way we look, the way we think, how we process information, how we act, etc. Those tratis make us different from the start. Over the years, I've learned that when we try to fit in, on some unconscious level, we alter something or several things about ourselves so others will feel comfortable and accept us. Why? Is it because we don't want to stand out among our friends and peers? Is it because we're afraid our differences will make us "less than"? When we change ourselves to fit in, we're settling. Settling for what others say we deserve. We diminish our own worth for the sake of making others feel better. Again, why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we feel we must water down who we are?
Why not be proud of those differences? The things that others expect, and many times demand, us to change in order to fit in, are the very things that make us standout. Those are the uique gifts and talents that only we posssess. Those gifts and talents are what the world needs.
What if we stopped trying to fit in? What if we start accepting others to be who they are and accept them for who they are? What if we encouraged diversity of thought? What if we accepted and embraced the idea of "always reach higher"? What if we support the whole person, not just the part we agree with? What if we encouraged authenticity and truth over saying what others want to hear?
It's ok to be different and not fit in. Being on the outside always provides the best objective and unobstructed view possible.
What if we stopped trying to fit in? What if we start accepting others to be who they are and accept them for who they are? What if we encouraged diversity of thought? What if we accepted and embraced the idea of "always reach higher"? What if we support the whole person, not just the part we agree with? What if we encouraged authenticity and truth over saying what others want to hear?
It's ok to be different and not fit in. Being on the outside always provides the best objective and unobstructed view possible.
So, would you rather fit in? Or do you want to stand out?
Comments
Post a Comment