Photo credit: Anastasia Eremina via Unsplash

There is nothing wrong with being different.

It is better to be who you are than to be just like everyone else?feeling lost and unnoticed in a crowd of people who look and act the same as you. Believe it or not, there was a time when even I felt desperate to just be accepted rather than chastised for being different, and that led me to

• shrink my light to avoid being "too big,"
• do too much in an attempt to prove my worth,
• and segregate parts of myself and my life.

By trying to please everyone instead of just being me, I forgot who I was and lost sight of my vision. I became depressed. I felt hollow. Attempting to ?fit in? quite literally almost killed me, and that was my wake-up call. It was suddenly clear to me how important it is to be true to yourself, and I vowed to never sink into the darkness like that again? and to help others understand and implement this, as well.

Of course I've come a long way since then, but maybe you still resonate with this. Maybe you're unsure how to love, appreciate, and really own your difference. Well, here are 5 ways you can start:

1. Highlight Your Strengths

We all have different talents, skill sets, and interests. We are all individuals with our own personal brand of magic. Therefore we should all be able to use this magic to do things our own way, and not compare ourselves to others or feel as though we are "less than" our colleagues or peers.

So look at the things you are skilled at. Notice your natural talents. Pay attention to the things you love to do. When you combine these with your unique personality, perspective, and aesthetic, of course you are different! Nobody does ?you? like you do!

Related: Why Address Self-Worth?

2. Don't Hide Your Flaws

Let's be honest: You're going to make mistakes. Whether you're trying something new, or just trying to keep up with the world around you, there will be times when you stumble, fumble, and all-out fail. And that's totally fine!

?

Mistakes are a way of showing that you're human and not perfect - which is probably why they make you so relatable to your followers. It?s not that they enjoy seeing you fail. It?s that they?re inspired by someone who is willing to be open about their struggles, and who gets back up, dusts themselves off, and finds a lesson in the experience.

3. Stop Defending Yourself

It can be okay to explain or clarify an opinion or idea, but if you find yourself justifying or defending it, realize that you are wasting your energy. If you find yourself defending your ideas and proving why they are good enough, it's time to take a step back and focus on what's important.

Hint: What?s important is your confidence in yourself and what you have to offer!

Allow the haters to hate; they'll find someone else with whom they're more aligned and, as they say, ?you don?t need that kind of negativity in your life.? Not everyone is going to agree with you, but the people you deserve (and who deserve YOU) will think you?re brilliant and see no reason to poke, prod, or argue.

4. Be Polite Yet Firm

Setting boundaries is a crucial part of having a healthy sense of self. Whether it's a way to fend off the trolls, protect your sanity, or keep from being exploited, boundaries are about honoring your own value and the value of whatever it is you do.

If someone wants to badmouth you, thank them for their feedback and move on. If someone contacts you outside of your "office hours," wait to reply until you're back "on the clock." And if someone attempts to pay you less or expects more work than agreed upon... feel free to decline their proposal or terminate their contract.

5. Ignore the Opinions of Others

When you're different, people will look at you and see something they don't understand. They see a mystery that needs to be solved. They want to figure out who you are, where you come from, and what your story is, so they will question everything about you?analyzing and theorizing?until they find an answer that fits within their personal (limited) perception.

In short, they will try to label you.

Let them.

And keep doing your thing. Because it?s YOUR thing, not THEIR thing, and if they don?t understand it or they don?t like it, that?s not your problem to fix. It?s theirs, and they can either try to learn more about you? or remove themselves from your circle.

Related: The Tough Truth About Visibility That No One Wants to Talk About

Consider This?

Think of your favorite celebrity, or your favorite brand or product. Think of your favorite place to visit. Why are these things your favorite??

It?s because they have something that you can?t find anywhere else.

That ?something? could be as simple as a memory you cherish or a color scheme that makes you drool, but it doesn?t matter because that?s what makes it special to YOU. And you, my friend, are just as special! So shine that light of yours as bright as you can, hold your head high, and own your difference proudly? knowing that you, too, have something that can?t be found anywhere else?

? and that you, too, are someone?s favorite just because you?re exactly who you are.

Related: Confidence is Not About How Loud You Are

SHARE THIS POST