Being Original – The Importance Of Originality

Francis Phillip Wernig, while using a pseudonym wrote,

“The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been before.”~ Alan Ashley-Pitt ~

Let’s face it. Following the crowd is easy.

Doing what everyone else is doing doesn’t hardly take any effort.

Being the same as the people in the crowd prevents you from sticking out.

You’re not ridiculed if you are a cookie cutter person.

That means being true to yourself, your values and originality is tougher than just going with the flow of the crowd.

Why Be An Original?

Being a redheaded child meant that I was going to be unique whether I wanted to be or not. At the time, I didn’t want to be original. I wanted to be just like everyone else.

Impossible.

Not only did I have flaming orange hair that curled on my head making me look like a matchstick, but I was covered with freckles. That alone made me stick out like a sore thumb and that is when I became the central theme for jokes.

I was the first child in my family by four years. I was the first grandchild. I also loved school. No, I mean I REALLY loved school. AND I was obedient to the teachers. AND I made good grades. AND I ate all my lunch. 😉 Okay, maybe the last one didn’t count all that much, but you get the point. The combination of things that made me who I am, also made me a different kind of child.

Being different and because I spent a lot of time alone, I learned things about the world, people and myself that other children my age weren’t motivated to even notice.

My differences not only made me an original, but it also led me to experiences that I wouldn’t have otherwise even tried. I stretched myself because I realized that my biggest competitor is and always will be myself.

So why should you want to be an original and be unique?

• You are being true to yourself. Not fighting yourself is an ultimate advantage in being true to your originality and uniqueness.
• You will come up with more fresh ideas and new perspectives on old ideas. Basically, your creativity increases.
• Learning to navigate with your differences gives you more confidence and self-esteem.
• People will view you as a person with something interesting to say.
• You are more apt to try things and expand your world thus making you more interesting.
• You will be happier.

The Importance Of Originality

The bottom line on being original boils down to one thing. You were born original with a unique set of characteristics, traits, talents and skills. If you go with the flow of the crowd, you will never be who you were born to be…

You will be a copy. The same old thing as everyone else.

Where’s the excitement in being the same old thing as everyone else? Do you just want to be a copy?

Stepping outside the regular boundaries in order to be unique is not always easy.

• People may think you are weird and avoid you.
• It will be harder for people to relate to you, your actions and ideas.
• Most people won’t agree with you.
• You may be ridiculed or persecuted.
• You may spend more time alone and thus find yourself lonely more often than others.

Even though there are some big reasons to not be an original and to just follow the crowd, the positives out weigh the negatives in being orginal.

Think about it. If you’re not going to be you, who will?

No one.

So your uniqueness won’t ever be known or add to the value of the environment, community and world.

That’s sad.

Actually, that’s really a waste.