1. Being outside the group is worse for you. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

It's Hip To Be Square And 5 Other Lies You Learn When You Be Yourself

I used to be a renegade, I used to fool around...

70
It's Hip To Be Square And 5 Other Lies You Learn When You Be Yourself

Following the leader can be inspiring and helpful, but after awhile the footsteps you are filling do not become your own. Meeting demands, fitting into that square peg, there is no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Going through the motions does not have to be set on a one-track path. Take a lesson from Patrick Bateman: be ahead of the curve; just avoid murdering in order to get there. Here are five myths you find out from going your own way.

1. Being outside the group is worse for you.

c1.staticflickr.com

Beyond the fear of missing out is the love of being missed. There is no harm in socializing and taking part in the festivities but following the crowd all the time can be self-defeating. Developing who you are is a personal journey and it may take a village, but it only takes one person to discover who you are: yourself.

2. Being inside your head is a bad habit.

c1.staticflickr.com

People who say you think too much do not sound like they do much thinking. Can thinking too much keep you from doing more? Sure, but can you ever think too much? Thinking more and more often is never a bad thing. Think twice, think thrice, think more than once. Being alone with your thoughts is one of the best ways to assess yourself and process your life.

3. You should act your age.

c1.staticflickr.com

This is impossible. Since when do numbers behave a certain way? Have you ever met a devious thirty-two? How about a cowardly number eight? Acting your age is about as sensible as acting your street number. Acting right however is possible. You do not act like everyone else just because that is what is going on. You stay you regardless of how others see you or expect you to be.

4. People will like you if you do what they want.

Movieclips

Not everyone is going to like you. No one will like you just because you do what they want either. You are not interested in their self-interest and you do not need to explain yourself to people who do not see you for who you are. If someone does not like you, the reasons are not for you to dissect and understand. Forget the worry, and be the best you can be for people who care about you and the type of person you are.

5. You should do this or be more like so-and-so.

c1.staticflickr.com

Anyone that suggests that you be a certain way or that you should be fitting into a cookie-cutter mold does not know how to be their own person. The intentions may have been good, but the unseen, unoriginal sameness is its own solipsistic hell. Everyone has a role, but your role does not have to be set in concrete. Suggestions are suggestions, actions are actions, and an individual is an individual. Thinking twice and outside the box is not only normal, but smart and beneficial for everyone and yourself.

Being someone you aren't does not look good on you. You looks good on you.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

8158
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons Why Sisters Are The Best

Who could be a better friend than your own sister?

4931
sisters
Taylor Hooper

I can barely remember back when I was the only child. Most would say it’s because it is extremely difficult to remember things as a toddler but I would say it's because I was bored until my sister came along. My mother always says how important the "sister bond" is and with every year that passes I realize how right she is. Instead of writing a novel about all of the wonderful things there are about having a sister I decided to list a few of them instead.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Adult

You're gonna make it after all.

5519
how to adult
Twitter

It is the time of our lives that we are beginning to enter the adult world and most of us, if not all of us, have no idea what we are doing. It's like starting a video game, but skipping the tutorial. We're all just running around aimlessly hoping we accidentally do something right that moves us along the right path. Now that graduation has just happened, or is right around the corner for some of us, it's time to start thinking about how we are going to take care of ourselves once we are on our own.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

7 Signs You're A Starbucks Addict

I'll be the first one to admit I'm addicted to Starbucks.

3400
drinking coffee
Tumblr

If you’re anything like me, you love a good cup of coffee. My coffee always comes from Starbucks; I refuse to drink it from anywhere else. Over the years, it’s become one of my biggest addictions. So, if you are aware that you’re a Starbucks addict as well, or maybe you need to check to see if you’re an addict, here are seven ways to tell.

Keep Reading...Show less
people  in library
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash

College involves a whirlwind of emotions, whether it’s from the stress of an assignment (or twenty), or from fighting with your roommate. It can be overwhelming at times and it’s important to take a step a back and calmly think things over. Maybe gain some perspective. The following aren’t foolproof tips and may not apply to you, but I was able to find success with them (hope you do too!)

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments