Dare to stand out

The following is a quote I’m sure many of you have heard yet still so few of us dare to stand out of our comfort zones.

“ Variety is the very spice of life. It gives it all its flavor.” William Cowper.

No one truly enjoys hiding in a crowd, yet many of us compare what others have and try to be more like them. Little contradicting, right?

When you compare yourself to someone, do you consider the whole picture? You really want to be like them? Would you want their job, or their happiness, misery, sense of humor, their education or lack of? How about their looks, taste in food or the car they drive, the pets they own? Do you want the lifestyle they lead, the house they live in, how about their family dynamics.

We don’t know what a persons story is, but certainly we know what our story is. What is wrong with loving every bit of the person you are, why not dare to stand out.

Remember to love the body that carries you around day after day. The smile that greets you in the morning when you look at the mirror, the eyes that show your soul, your heart that cries when you cry and laughs when you laugh. Embrace those freckles, that birthmark or how your hair looks. Love the tone and texture of your skin and how it protects your body from so many elements.

We are all fabulous, so why is it that we are our own worst critic.

It is OK not to like everything

Think of your favorite food, would you be offended people didn’t enjoy it? Or how about your favorite pet, the one who curls up with you every night and you love, would you get rid of it if someone didn’t like it? Things like that we don’t tend to question as we know our love for them to be ours no matter what anyone thinks.

Now ask yourself this; would you react differently if someone laughed at your outfit? Would you think twice about wearing it out next time? Do you feel uneasy when you rush out with no makeup on? What makes these little things different.. nothing. It is simply your own mind telling you it’s different, so dare to stand out.

It’s OK if we don’t like everything. Do you like all music, movies or cars? How about all foods, clothing or even people. Do you like all animals the same, of course not. Variety is what keeps life interesting!

When perfect doesn’t mean better

Car broken down on the side of the road, what image comes to mind? An old hunk of junk perhaps. However, you could own the most classy expensive car in town and still get a flat tire. You can have a computer error that prevents the car from running smoothly. No vehicle is perfect.

Now picture walking into a room of supermodels. What does that look like? My guess is make up and hair done, bronze skin, fancy clothing. Well how about that girl in the corner? The one who looks effortlessly amazing, no makeup, no glam, yet is stunning. Look back into that room in a years time, what do you think will stand out in your memory?

My point is being that you are not better than anyone else. We all have our gifts and talents that we are stronger in, but we must stay humble in knowing we are just all people sharing this life. We need to embrace our differences and use them to enjoy our time, not waste it comparing ourselves to others.

Dare to stand out

Having the courage to put yourself out there, is only one way to develop your confidence and grow as an individual. Strive to become your best version, not a version of someone else. As another old saying goes:

The grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence. It’s greener where you water it.

A person’s image is only the surface of who they are. Social media shows the highlights the perfect moments. When someone reaches the top of their career, we see them as lucky or an overnight success. Meanwhile, there were all the late nights of hard work, the discipline to choose the hustle over a social life or the stress following the first failed attempt, before they got it right.

Remember a smile does not always mean someone’s OK. Money doesn’t always mean they’re happy. Physically fit doesn’t always mean they’re mentally fit. So stop comparing yourself to others and you do you.

Self-awareness allows you to be true to your values. Focus on those things and commit to what you truly want in your life. Gain the knowledge. Respect your body. Stay mindful of the small, precious moments. Most importantly, be genuine to who you are and dare to stand out!