Do you want to stand out and make a difference in the world? Are you tired of feeling less successful than those around you? Do you want to be somebody?
If so, the first thing you'll need to do is stop being like everybody else and start focusing on what makes you, you. If you try to be like everybody, you'll end up being nobody.
We are all unique; each and every one of us has a history that is uniquely different from everyone else. None of us have the exact same past. The combination of things you've experienced, people you've met, choices you've made, and tough situations you've been through are one hundred percent unique to you.
Your history -- your past experiences, successes, and mistakes -- make you uniquely capable of handling specific situations and solving specific problems in the world. You are so unique in fact, that the only path in life for you to take is your path.
By doing what everyone else is doing, by following the crowd or choosing to follow the path of someone else, you're not going to change the world; you're not going to make a difference; and you're not going to be happy.
Step out of that box that you, your family, your friends, and society have created around your life. You're a powerful human being, with incredible abilities and superior skills. Why are you letting those go to waste? You are your own master. You are your own God. When it comes to living your life, nobody else even comes close to competing.
Everything you need to be, you are. You don't have to change or try to be something or someone different. Life provides you with all that is needed to succeed and make a difference. Anything you don't already have will be provided along the way. All you have to do is step out of the way, stop trying to follow the goals and dreams of someone else, and take the initiative to be yourself.
Stop trying so hard and just be.
Follow your heart and intuition and they will guide you. If it feels like they're guiding you towards mistakes, then those mistakes are probably vital to your growth and progress. The right path in life isn't always obvious or easy.
When life throws you lemons, make lemonade. When life throws you a truck-load of lemons, start a lemonade business. But please, don't give up and let those delicious lemons rot away!
Embrace yourself. Right now. It's OK, no one is watching. Close your eyes and try it. Wrap your arms around yourself and give yourself a big hug.
That person loves you more than anyone else ever could. That person will be there with you forever, even on your death bed. Such dedication deserves a little appreciation and love in return, don't you think?
There are so many people in the world right now who would benefit from what you've learned in life. You have the ability to make a permanent impact on their life. These people need you to stop ignoring yourself.
Allow yourself to be yourself. Find the courage to be yourself. Learn to love and take care of yourself before anyone else. Let your unique beauty shine through and touch the hearts and souls of those around you. Genuinely care. Be compassionate and respectful to all life.
Do this and I can promise that you will not only make a difference in your world, but also in the world of those around you.
Thank you. I can’t tell you how reassuring these words are to me right now. Well I guess they would be at any stage but seriously, this is why I read your blog! Cheers Raam….I am supremely happy right now!!! 😀
oh!The Embrace – there’s a version of it that they call “Jaadu ki Jhappi” (Magical Hug) in hindi and it made the rounds thanks to a popular bollywood movie released a few years ago.It was about finding an unsuspecting person and giving them a big bear hug. Embracing yourself is probably the sweetest thing I’ve heard this week! *bliss*
You’re welcome, Priya! I’m so happy to hear this is what you needed! 🙂
Thank you for telling me about “Jaad ki Jhappi”! I think we all need a magical hug every once in awhile, even if it’s from ourselves!
Good article RD! I agree with all of it and it made me smile to hear someone say it like this! 🙂
Thank you, Ambrose! I’m so happy to hear it made you smile. 🙂
Raam,
Outstanding post as usual dude.
You are absolutely right. Too often, we want to be “like mike” or someone else that we aren’t. It’s okay to be inspired by someone, but try as we might, we will never be that person. That’s why I love this quote by Oscar Wilde – “Be yourself, everyone else is taken”
We have all the tools at our disposal that makes us uniquely individual. When we start realizing that we are indeed unique is when we can appreciate ourselves.
Thank you, zBrain!
Recognizing that we are already complete, that we already have everything we need inside to get us to where we need to go, is definitely the first step in finding inner progress. As long as we’re looking to be like someone else, or follow the successes of someone else, we won’t grow and develop inside. Our life and our progress will remain stagnant.
I love that quote by Oscar Wilde! I remembered hearing it when I was writing this post, but couldn’t remember the exact quote or author. Thanks!
“Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everybody I’ve ever known.” – Chuck Palahniuk
The thing is, my everybody I’ve ever known is unlike everyone else’s everybody they’ve ever known, so I’m quite the unique snowflake.
Nice post Raam. I think we grow through adolescence trying to be some exact model of another “super” person, and as we grow into young adulthood we self-actualize and start to realize that NFL All-Pro or President isn’t going to happen but there’s some ultimate in the middle where we’re just us and by being us, we create a world that’s better, because that whole “like the other person” technique creates a world of criticism and contempt for whatever qualities makes you unlike the “ideal”, which is inevitably going to happen.
If we just exist instead of being less or greater than, cool shit happens.
Ross, thank you for the comment and that quote!
I think as children, we’re required to imitate and model the elders around us — it’s the best way for us to learn language, customs, and skills. However, I think there’s a point in our life where we need to stop modeling after others and switch to becoming our own model. We need to recognize ourselves as the canvas we are, pick up the paintbrush, and start creating our masterpiece of life.
Too often we get stuck in the childlike mode of modeling our life after others and we never realize our true potential.
Hi Raam!
I identify completely with this post.
Like you wrote: “Stop trying so hard and just be.” It’s true, sometimes we spend time doing something that dulls our own thoughts and actions; and at the same time, we stay out of the road like it was not our responsibility to walk it. Pretending to be so hard other person that we’ll never be. It’s about oneself, not somebody else.
This post is a reflexion, thank you Raam 🙂
Hi Viviana! 🙂
Yes, I think it’s so easy to forget that our uniqueness, and the unique things we can provide to the world (whatever they might be), are the best way for us to start making a difference. Our unique potential is what makes us valuable and trying to copy somebody else is just throwing away our unique potential. We need to focus on developing us and then figuring out how we can contribute that potential to the betterment of the world.