Many of us feel a natural sense of anxiety when we separate from what other people are doing. For instance, think about what it would take to stop using a smartphone and instead switch back to a flip-phone. Deep down, you know that freedom from social media would be quite incredible, and possibly very redemptive for your mindset. But it’s true to say that disconnecting from such a norm can sometimes make us feel like “the other.” Some people do naturally accept this and focus on an outcome like that, others choose not to because the benefits of following the norm outweighs the work of charting your own path.
That said, there’s something very important about making room for your eccentricities and letting them fly. No matter if you’re a burly construction worker who wants to learn how to salsa dance, or something of a small, distinguished lady in her older years who wants to try weightlifting for the first time, flipping the script and overcoming the artificial limitations placed on us can be one of the most redemptive things we do. In this post, we’ll discuss the power of letting your eccentricities fly, and why you may wish to try it yourself.
Being Non-Apologetic
Provided you’re not hurting anyone, it can be healthy to avoid apologizing for who you are. It might be that you wish to take up ballet; you know that you’re never going to be playing at a formal dance hall but perhaps you can learn some fun movements and enjoy your time at the club you join. Should you apologize for being there? Absolutely not. Trying your best and moving into an environment that you’re unused to should be celebrated, not denigrated.
Supporting Others
When we give ourselves room to be who we are, it’s important to take this energy and allow others to shine in that way, too. It’s much easier to accept ourselves when we accept others, because we won’t have a million artificial and unfounded rules holding our own action back. No matter if you want a prince albert piercing or you wish to get that tattoo despite being a grandmother and never really focusing on your own ‘aesthetic’ before now, you’ll no doubt find support from friends if you’ve already supported them, and vice versa.
Understanding Why
It’s good to understand why you enjoy certain eccentricities you have. This way, you can make sure that they are genuinely part of you rather than a costume you don for reasons unknown, or simply because you feel that you have to act that way. For instance, if you have a particular hobby you’d like to keep up with, it’s nice to think about how and why it matters to you. When you write this down in a journal, or you ponder it for a few weeks, you can become so much more sure in your quirks that false criticism from others you don’t really care about will never affect you, and you won’t have to seek approval for it either. It’s a nice way of gathering more self esteem, which we deserve to live with,
With this advice, you’re certain to understand the true power of letting your eccentricities fly.
