How to Stand Out

Recognize that you are truly unique. First, acknowledge that you are unlike anyone else on this planet. While some may be more extraordinary than others, each of us carries unique experiences and personalities, making us distinct. No one has a mind exactly like yours, even thoughts and reactions differ. Simply being human makes you stand out.

• Categorizing is relatively useless. Even trying to become unique isn’t something easily achieved. A slight shift in cultural foundation will reveal that people naturally behave differently. Therefore, accept that you are inherently unique and focus on your own development. After all, who are you really?

Discover your true self and be who you are. To stand out, you must be yourself – not a copy of someone else. If you're unsure of who you are, the process might seem a little daunting. To be yourself, you need to uncover your true identity. Do you know what you like? What do you resemble? Who are you when no one is around you?

• Knowing self-love is crucial. If you're not comfortable with who you are, you’ll end up trying to be someone else – or at least putting on a mask to please others.

Take some time for yourself. In today's world, constant bombardment from media or the people around us has become "normal." To truly understand who you are and make yourself stand out, take some time to be alone. Separate yourself from everything. What do you have left? Think about what really matters to you.

• You know, we are always told what to wear, eat, say, look like, how to behave, what to watch, and what to read... Be alone, and suddenly no one is guiding you. It's a strange feeling, sitting there, thinking about the things you'd never miss if you were never told what to wear/eat/say/do/read/watch. Reflect on the aspects that the environment imposes on you and the things you’d be willing to embrace.

Know what you want. You must be cautious when deciding to truly stand out. Perhaps you're just in a group where you don’t fit in, and the quiet voice inside your head has been misinterpreted. What does being different really mean to you?

• What do you consider normal? Why do people view you as "just like everyone else"? Everyone has a different interpretation of what "different" means. Do they look like that? Act like that? Speak and dream like that?

Know how you want to stand out. Once you’ve figured out what "different" means to you, how do you plan to act on it? If you're in a group that only eats Swedish protein bars (also called oat bars) and wears pink clothes on Wednesdays, how do you want to break free? Do you want to become a math prodigy or just stir things up by wearing purple clothes? There are many ways to stand out.

Pay attention to your surroundings. A Japanese person shaking hands instead of bowing might be seen as unusual in Japan, but quite ordinary in Western countries. Reading Thoreau for pleasure is considered normal in some communities, but in others, "normal" could mean reading Cosmopolitan. To figure out how to stand out, you must become aware of the environment around you. Imagine there are three words to describe the environment you live in. Now, what would the opposite be?

• Think back to the movie "Mean Girls." What three words describe that environment? Shallow. Superficial. And of course, mean. Do you want to stand out from the Plastics? You need to be a deeper thinker, stop caring about appearances, and be kind. However, in other environments, being kind to others is completely normal (and expected). What’s your environment like?

Observe. Try to detach yourself from your surroundings for a moment and observe. How do people act? How do they interact with each other (with friends, strangers, cashiers, lovers)? What assumptions do they make? What do they wear? If you suddenly entered this environment, how would you break free from the mold?

• Sure, there are varying levels of extremes. Simply wearing bright clothing will make you stand out at a coffee shop on a gloomy day.
• You could slightly change your behavior – when a cashier at a coffee shop asks what you’d like to drink, try responding with, "Hmm. Not sure. How about you?"
• You could go even further – laugh loudly, throw things, or dance on the table. These acts may be very different from social norms, but they might make you stand out.

Do what you love. Be bold, you’ll enjoy both the trendy things and the odd ones. It’s perfectly fine! As long as you’re doing what you love, you’ll likely end up with a unique combination. Maybe you enjoy baking, martial arts, and thrifting. As long as you enjoy it, that’s what matters.

• What others think or do doesn’t matter. Do you want to sing a song from Jekyll & Hyde at a karaoke bar in Germany? Awesome, go ahead. Do you want to buy that Abercrombie & Fitch bag? Definitely, if it makes you happy. Just make sure you’re doing it not because others told you to!

Try new things. Naturally, we are raised as part of a group. Thus, we are always exposed to things that those around us already agree on. These things are fine – they may lead us to things we never expected – but trying new things that no one has yet approved of is also very important. Without doing so, how will you find out what you like or don’t like?

Dare to break free. From a young age, it seems we’re conditioned to fit into society. We wear clothes, don’t eat with our hands, go to school, do things that are gender-appropriate, and so on. It’s hard to realize that this is a situation you can break out of. There are limits where you can create breakthroughs. But, that doesn’t happen for everyone.

• Think about how you’d act if you were wearing a dinosaur costume. No one can see your face or body because you’re in that dinosaur suit. Suddenly, you burst into rooms, flap your tiny arms, and scare everyone just because you can. You could do this in real life, but you choose not to... Why?

No need to be logical. If the previous example wasn’t enough, instead of simply doing something differently, you could choose not to do it at all. The thing is, if you want to walk around campus, wearing headphones and dancing like you're in a Selena Gomez music video, you can. If you want to wear a Texas-shaped hat and stand outside a Wal-Mart all night, and if you can find that outfit, you can. (That doesn’t mean you should, but you certainly can.)

• Some people will frown when they see you in a dinosaur suit, dancing in public, and wearing an odd hat. But you know that if you want to break boundaries and step beyond limits, you’ll probably face resistance. If you can handle it, go for it. Just remember, many people will raise an eyebrow at what's "unusual."

Shake hands with the enemy. This approach is about behaving in ways people don’t expect – in a good way, of course! And see where it takes you – who knows, next time you encounter a police officer, try shaking his hand, ask him about himself, and see if you avoid getting fined! It’s very likely.

• A sure way to stand out is to be kind to everyone. How many people can truly be friendly to everyone? Probably not that many. It’s hard! We tend to judge those around us and are only attracted to certain types of people. Instead, try being kind to those you don’t feel the need to be friendly with. You’ll immediately stand out and learn a lot in the process!

Dress for yourself. It's easy to get caught up in what society deems beautiful and attractive. While it’s hard to avoid this completely (unless you sew your own clothes), treat fashion like a buffet – take what you want and leave the rest behind. Do you like a certain trend? Awesome. Would you prefer a pair of 1972 rain boots over some Uggs? Great – maybe your mom has a few pairs in her closet!

Don’t get caught up in the game. It’s tough to think of things that everyone does. You could say, "listen to less popular music," but plenty of people do that too. However, one thing that seems to be universally common is gossip. Everyone loves it. If you want to stand out, steer clear of it. Don’t let it become part of your life. And definitely, don’t start it!

• Due to human interaction, we all use plenty of tricks. A friend asks if we’re upset, and we say no just to keep things smooth, even when we’re frustrated. We do things to get attention, manipulate others; we use tactics to get what we want, even when they’re far from good. If you can recognize these impulses, resist them. Being straightforward and sincere are virtues that will make you stand out.

Say what others are thinking. One of the tricks people play is not speaking their true thoughts. We’re afraid of standing out, being loud, hurting someone’s feelings, or feeling embarrassed ourselves. There will be many times when everyone is thinking something, but no one says it. The phrase "the elephant in the room – the outcast" exists for a reason! Be that person!

• Most people don’t do what they truly want because they get stuck in society's conventions about appearance and behavior. They care too much about how others see them, and as a result, they don’t get to be their authentic selves. If you find yourself holding back due to the presence of others, go ahead and do it! (Of course, it has to be legal!)

You don’t need to impress anyone. You may not realize this, but here’s why others' opinions don’t matter. People are too focused on how they appear and how others perceive them, so try not to do that. Often, when we don’t try to impress, we end up being more impressive!

• You know, they say "What goes around comes around." It’s the same here. Instead of creating an image for others, just present yourself as you are. That’s much better and far more unique.

Understand that the world works in opposites. Nothing is truly as it seems. Many people strive to be different, only to end up exactly the same as everyone else. Silence can make people listen more when you speak. When you don’t try to attract others, they find you more appealing. So, trying to appear different might not get you anywhere.

• For example, you don’t have to wear a squirrel (or dinosaur) costume to be considered special. In a way, doing that would just make people pay attention to you, just like wearing a mini skirt and high heels would. So, next time you try to stand out, think about what you’ll actually do. Is it really the opposite of what you think?

Know that you’ll face obstacles. Society isn’t great at accepting what’s not in trend. People are praised for dressing stylishly and looking beautiful – only a few people are admired for expanding boundaries and breaking through. Those people may not welcome you with open arms. But that’s okay! You don’t need them. But you really need to understand that this will happen. That way, you’ll be prepared.

• Aristotle once said, “To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” This is so true. The moment you behave differently, you’ll be criticized! Consider it a good thing! You’re being criticized because you’re doing something. You’re getting attention. You’re showing people something different. How wonderful! You’re unique.