When everyone wants to fit in, how can you stand out?

It's difficult to stand out in a society that despises those who don't fit in. Let's face it, let's be honest. Unless you're David Bowie or Marilyn Manson, being unusual may result in a less successful mindset. No one wants to be a poser, yet changing one's personality to achieve a desired career, romantic partner, or group of friends is simple and surprisingly frequent.

The truth is that we all have a strong need to belong. This drive to belong is backed up by empirical evidence. Isn't it difficult to defeat science?

What if there was a way to be unique while yet being successful? There is, in fact, one! Get rid of your poser persona and adopt a successful mindset.

Why Is It So Difficult To Accept Yourself?

It turns out that being different is quite difficult when you refuse to acknowledge your differences. Who'd have guessed? That is why, in order to be different, the first step is to accept oneself. For this one, you might need to play therapist and ask yourself why you're wanting to fit in.

What has caused you to deny your own individuality? You may accept the amazing eccentricities within you that are just waiting to be shared with the world after you know the answer to this question.

Stop attempting to be unique.

Here's the thing: if you strive to stand out, you'll end up looking like that poser who tried to blend in with the crowd.

When you try to be unique, you end up trying to fit into what you think is unique rather than adhering to your specific preferences. What makes you think it'll work for hipster rebels or other, more unusual groups if it didn't work for the cool kids' club?

If you truly want to stand apart, you must concentrate on your peculiarities. We're conditioned to dress, talk, and think in certain ways from an early age (thanks, education system!)

You might be wondering what we mean when we say "see within." No, this isn't a new-age meditation course, but if you're interested in that, consider it your niche! What we mean is that you should challenge the status quo by experimenting with your eccentricities.

Don't try to emulate less popular trends or persuade yourself of particular interests in order to stand apart; doing so will just draw the wrong type of attention. You will feel more like yourself and build a successful attitude that exudes confidence if you naturally focus on your uniqueness. Isn't that appealing?

Why You Should Value Your Hobbies

Now comes the exciting part—hobbies! Hobbies can do wonders for one's self-esteem. They can help you tap into your inner differences even more, making them ideal for mental health and a successful mentality.

Here are a few ways that hobbies can help you:

You Develop a Personality

It's easy to get lost in the need to fit in, and some people even go to great lengths to adopt new identities and interests just to feel accepted. However, denying oneself interests for the sake of social acceptance robs you of the possibility for authentic self-expression. In the long run, pursuing your actual passions is significantly more fulfilling.

Like-Minded People Can Be Found

Hobbies provide you the opportunity to embrace what makes you unique in a way that can actually help you establish friends with similar interests.

Not only is it acceptable to be different, but there is also a community of like-minded people willing to include you in mutual interests. You'll find that being unusual is energizing after you've joined a group of people who are just as enthusiastic about your hobbies as you are.

You Have a Sense of Success

There's nothing like mastering a new skill in your hobby to make you feel accomplished. Whether you're learning to play Dungeons and Dragons (no judgment!) or learning to play a new sport, there's something for everyone. Whether you've finally mastered the art of yodeling or you've finally mastered the art of chess, mastering an aspect of your activity puts you in a success mentality, which can lead to improved moods and confidence.

Researchers discovered that “participants who reported a larger number of Mastery activities for the week had higher mood ratings” in a study on how activities might affect mood.

That's right: mastering your hobbies can genuinely improve your mood.

Don't be afraid to make a statement.

Simply put, if you're used to fitting in, it's difficult to suddenly become the center of attention. When you choose to be unusual, for better or worse, you will draw attention to yourself. But don't get too worked up just yet. This can actually work in your favor, especially if you have a goal-oriented mindset.

That's right, you read that correctly. Standing out from job candidates or even your coworkers at your current employment could mean the difference between keeping your monotonous, low-paying job and rising to the top as a successful, “out there” type of person.

Psychological Games Should Be Avoided

It's no wonder that it's easy to get caught up in games. People have acquired some fairly cunning tactics for surreptitiously fitting in and manipulating situations for their own profit, from power plays in the workplace to gossiping in a social circle. Consider what happened to Lindsay Lohan's character in the movie "Mean Girls."

When you get caught up in psychological games, you compromise your identity just to fit in, even if it appears to be a plan that will lead to a successful attitude.

Not to add, playing games can backfire in the long run if people figure out what you're up to. Doesn't appear to be all that successful, does it?

Put on your best outfit (or Down)

You'll start to see yourself in a whole new light as you start to step away from the crowd, and that's absolutely fine! So, why not adjust your look to fit your personality better?

We're not suggesting you don a gigantic hat shaped like Texas (unless that's your thing), but here is your chance to switch up some of the accessories you've been wearing on a daily basis that have helped you blend in.

Wear an edgy piece of jewelry, a watch, belt, shoes, or a hat. Paint your nails, dye your hair the color you've always wanted, and ditch your business suit in favor of something more eccentric and unusual.

Don't try to please everyone.

You've finally dived into the depths of your distinct individuality. But don't worry, we're not done yet!

Just because you've accepted and changed your inner differences doesn't mean you're immune to the forces that led you to conceal yourself in the first place. Others will make comments about you and classify you as unusual. In other cases, you may even feel like an outcast.

However, don't let what others think of you deter you from pursuing your desire to be unique. Continue to value the aspects of yourself that set you different to avoid falling back into the trap of wanting to fit in and satisfy people around you.

Allow your individuality to shine through.

Keep in mind that you and your uniqueness are vital. In an ideal society, everyone finds their own niche in the social realm based on their distinct features.

You set yourself up to find the proper crowd for your personality, establish a successful growth mindset, and be valued for who you are when you allow yourself to be different. And who knows what might happen? While you're doing it, you might even influence and urge others to march to the beat of their own drums!