Importance of individuality

“Pursue some path, however narrow or crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.”-Henry David Thoreau’s this quote reminds us how important is to be ourselves as individuals. Individuality is a view of perceptions, emotions, thoughts, actions, everything to complete a human being. Individuals cannot be compared. You are you and no one else and you need to believe that. I firmly believe that everyone is unique in their own way, everybody does. But they do not or cannot follow their uniqueness because of the thought “ what will people say”. I gathered 5 views and thoughts of famous people that completed the importance of individuality which completes a human being.

1. Enjoy your own color

“Primary colors are red, blue, yellow, green. But what color are you? I am light pink, my mother is lovely lavender, my father is sea green ,my little brother is a wild rainbow-red, yellow, blue or magenta. Are you  ruby, red, saffron, sapphire, ebony? Are you iridescent mother of pearl?  Are you a kaleidoscope? Are you a cacophony of colors, ideas, questions, hopes and dreams?” – these are the words from Marina Finley in TEDx Talks, in November 2010. From her speech, it is understood quite easily that you need not have the same color as others

                 2. Individuality leads to success

Walden is a book written about personal declaration of independence, spiritual discovery, satire, and—to some degree—a manual for self-reliance  by Henry David Thoreau.In his book there is a line-

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

These words are challenge to love yourself and follow your views. This book can change life if you understand the words.

3.Be Your own master

 “An Individualist is a man who says: I will not run anyone’s life- nor let anyone run mine. I will not be ruler or not be ruled. I will not be a master nor be a slave. I will not sacrifice myself for anyone-nor sacrifice anyone for myself”- Ayn Rand. No one but you are your own boss. You have the ability to shape yourself and create your own world. You don’t need to fit in others’ boxes. Mould your own shape with your divine features.

                4. Where does comparison lead us?

Comparing yourself to anyone means you are disgracing yourself. It is okay to have different views and thoughts. You can be different from all other members of your groups. But it is not okay to say “yes” all the very time. Don’t think what people will say and what will they think if you say something different to you. You are you and you can have different perspective from then.

               5. Be free from inner imprisonment

“Instead of celebrating what makes each child unique, most parents push their children to ‘fit in’ so that they do not ‘stick out’. This unwittingly stomps out individuality and encourage conformity, despite these parents’ good intentions.”- Tom Rath.

We know that our fingerprints are different. Every human being has different fingerprints. One doesn’t match the other. In the same way, we all have different desires, different perspectives and we all are right from our perspectives may be. But that doesn’t mean that cannot be expressed. Sometimes we even forget that we have different views. We are not confidence enough to build our thoughts, put or views in front of everyone. In school, college, university, work places or even in a situation, you do not have to follow the majority always. Be true to yourself. Following others only make you a follower. Don’t let your individuality get lost. People may mock about you, may say you are rude, you are conservative, you are self-centered; but my question so what if you are all these? You are like this. You don’t need to wear a mask on to harmonize with everybody. Don’t imprison your thoughts for others. Your soul doesn’t deserve to be shut off.

 Syncing with Marina Finley, I would like to repeat the line again, “So what is your color?”