Not fitting in is a privilege

Fail here: in sticking to the norms and standards of most people.

I’m so glad I never really stuck to the norm socially, because now that I’m more confident and believe in myself I’m coming to realise just how insecure and unoriginal most people are.

Had I succeeded in fitting in and now I would have no personality of my own, original thoughts of my own, no capacity whatsoever to detach myself from the ad-hoc social standards of today.

As a teenager, I was always very uncomfortable feeling like “the only one“; the only one following my path, the only person with my interests and attitudes.

Now, with perspective and confidence, the only thing to feel is gratitude for not having fit in.

I’m passionate about natural bodybuilding and health, and missing out on the parties, food, and drinks as a teenager could only make me doubt what I was doing.

Was I wasting energy by not expanding socially?

Years later, I’m using my fitness and health to help other people and as an aspect of my personal brand.

I’m also passionate about mathematics and theoretical physics, and you are bound to doubt yourself when postponing hanging out with friends to finish a problem or reading a book.

Was I destroying my social life?

Now I’ve trained my mind to think such complicated and abstract thoughts that studying at university feels trivial.

Also, my passion for reading and writing led to countless hours in front of the computer, questioning whether other people were having a more fulfilling life than me.

Now, reading and writing are fundamental for my social media, creativity and sharing of ideas.

I always wondered whether the “normal“ people were happier.

Today, I couldn’t be more thankful for not having quit being myself.

As a 16-year-old, yes, you may be intelligent, but your self-awareness is surely underdeveloped. You have simply not lived enough. You can only test yourself by living.

So, I persisted and after graduating highschool and leaving my hometown for a year, I got so much positive-feedback that being myself felt like a privilege.

People holding you in high regard academically at university, gym-goers asking for advice and complimenting, feeling better than ever in terms of health and performance; I’d finally been proven right.

The lesson is merely that not fitting in is not equivalent to failing, it is equivalent to succeeding. If you retain your originality and beliefs for long enough, you will eventually thank yourself. It is equivalent to success in that it signifies that you have not been able to be converted into an averge soul-less person.

After all, if the norm is certainly far-away from what you enjoy and believe in, why try to stick to it anyway?

See you next wednesday for the next post!