You’re Not Unique, Stop Pretending To Be

Far too often we try to define ourselves by outward appearances, the material possessions we obtain, and the lifestyle we try to live. The desire to be unique is encoded in our DNA from thousands of years of competing for scarce resources. Because we are naturally in competition with each other, we are also naturally inclined to present the best persona we can. To obtain wealth, love, success, and power, a strong identity is needed which tends to influence egotistical behaviors rather than positive meaningful actions. It is your actions, and how you live your life, that separates you from others. It is only then you can truly be unique.?

When your mom says, “your one in a million, kid,” just remember there are eighty-one hundred people just like you. You are not unique, so get over it. Considering that there are 8.1 billion people on this earth, to think you are unique is just plain naive. Sure, we might have fingerprints, retinas, and unique facial structures, but looks are not what separates us from each other. We all have basic needs, desires, emotions, weaknesses, and strengths and even if you take all the combinations of personality traits, there aren't enough of them to ensure your specific combination makes you one of a kind. You are more like your neighbor than you are different. And that’s okay.

In the age of social media, it seems that the desire to be unique has become exponentially more prolific across the globe. Sometimes when I am mindlessly scrolling through various social media platforms, I marvel at how many people try to set themselves apart from the masses by curating fake personas, showing a representation of who they want to be, and pretending to be special.

Millions of people fill their social media profiles with pictures of what they just bought, where they traveled, what they experienced, and how they looked. The more exclusive the party, the more exotic the travel, the more expensive the stuff, the better.? Like a peacock strutting around with feathers ablaze, so too are the throngs begging for attention.?

If you want to be unique, focus on your actions and not your outward appearance. Strive for authenticity, work hard, respect others, and create the life you desire. What you do is what sets you apart, makes you memorable, and increases your chances of success by orders of magnitude over those who merely pretend.?

The most memorable people in this world got that way because of their actions, and it is usually their actions that we celebrate long after they are gone. The fringe benefits of achievement and success are the legacy they create, overshadowing the mistakes you made along your journey.? In our pursuit to become unique, the question then becomes, how do your actions align with the person you wish to be?

Do we want to be seen as the eccentric guy who wears weird clothes and acts insane online, or the eccentric artist who inspires millions with their works of art? Do we want to be seen as the rich and powerful playboy who surrounds himself with shallow people and material consumption, or the philanthropist who works to improve the world after achieving success through drive and persistence? Or how about the disgusting behavior of the religious zealot who pretends to be good, using their perceived faith to gain trust and power? I for one would rather keep my faith between me and my higher power.?

In today’s world, authenticity reigns supreme over the fake persona. Living true to your principles, morals, and true self brings lasting success that is so rare it is considered unique. There may be other authentic folks like you, but you should consider them as friends, mentors, and a solid network to surround yourself with. Then, the temptation to pretend will fade away as you live a significant life.?

#livingwithpurpose #principles #authenticity #livingwell #uniqueness