You walked into the party, slightly holding up your green flowing gown so that the hem gently swept the tiled floors. Your face was made up; light bronze flashed whenever you closed your eyes. Your lips were coloured peach. Earrings dazzled side by side. You looked gorgeous. But you walked into the party and met the shocker of your life. The dress code there was far from being civil: bum shorts and spaghetti tops, short tight skirts with skimpy blouses.
Let’s say you didn’t shout, but you would surely do one of these two things:
Either you sit and refuse to dance
Or
You just leave before entering.
You’re afraid of being the odd one.
It is a normal feeling—to want to belong. We don’t want to go to a wedding feeling underdressed or go to a town meeting feeling overdressed.
The fear of missing out or being odd has made many remain “potential” achievers all their lives.
Some might have missed their lucky day in life because they sat still and refused to say their minds, simply because a glance around the room showed that the majority had already decided. You sat still and refused to say a word. Many are comfortable being part of the “Oh yes” crowd for fear of being looked at as odd.
Have you ever refused to let your voice be heard and speak up against the maltreatment of someone just because you wanted to fit in? Have you ever condemned the right actions of someone just because your clique gave a thumbs-down to the person? Have you ever sided with a friend, knowing fully well that his actions were wrong?
Fear of being odd is synonymous with the fear of rejection. However, it would do us good to realise that we will achieve little—very little indeed—if we constantly look for approval from people around us. We will become like infants who constantly seek permission and approval from their mothers to wee, pee, eat, etc. And how can we achieve our potential if we continuously and cowardly seek approval for all our decisions? How can we achieve if we crave fitting in?
We must learn to understand that every man fends for himself, and we can only love another perfectly if we love ourselves first. Not being yourself and constantly trying to fit in is simply not loving yourself. Sincerely put: YOU HATE YOURSELF.
Go out and make some friends. Grab some beer and chew some meat this festive season. But if that entails lowering your standards and agreeing to do some shitty things just to hang around and feel accepted, you’d better lock yourself up.
HAPPY FESTIVE MOOD
