User Reviewed How to Be an Individual Three Parts:Developing a Healthy PerspectiveTaking ActionDeveloping -- -- Three Parts:Developing a Healthy PerspectiveTaking ActionDeveloping Your IndividualityCommunity Q&A -- It’s not always easy to be an individual, especially if you find yourself lost in peer pressure, confusing feedback, and loud personalities. However, if you make an effort to accept the person who -- -- personalities. However, if you make an effort to accept the person who you are while continuing to grow and evolve, then you’ll be on your way to discovering the person you were meant to be. Being an individual takes work and dedication, and it doesn’t mean you have to stick out in -- takes work and dedication, and it doesn’t mean you have to stick out in a crowd, either. Being a true individual means having convictions and not being afraid to go off the beaten path. -- -- Part 1 Developing a Healthy Perspective 1. Image titled Be an Individual Step 1 Image titled Be an Individual Step 1 1 -- -- 1 Stop caring what others think. If you want to really move forward to become an individual, then you have to put aside your worries about what other people are thinking. You should want to be an -- about what other people are thinking. You should want to be an individual just for yourself, not so the kids in your school think you’re awesome or that you stand out in some way. If you obsess over what other people are thinking, then you’ll never be able to -- -- coming from a person who is weak and insecure and that you know better than to stoop to that level. + Even if you feel like the most awesome individual out there—even if you’re John Lennon, Nina Simone, or Lena Dunham—there will always be critics. It’s better to accept -- -- Dunham—there will always be critics. It’s better to accept that now than to spend your life trying to please people. 2. Image titled Be an Individual Step 2 Image titled Be an Individual Step 2 2 -- -- 2 Don’t be afraid to be yourself. As corny as it sounds, being an individual means being unabashedly yourself. It means not hiding your true feelings every time you go out in public, or acting like you’re perfect and refusing to acknowledge your flaws. It means -- -- on revealing who you are, little by little, so you build toward more meaningful relationships with people. 3. Image titled Be an Individual Step 3 Image titled Be an Individual Step 3 3 -- -- 3 Don’t feel forced to be different. You may think that being an individual means wearing neon, playing a banjo, or just standing out in a room of 500 people, like “Where is Waldo?” However, it doesn’t actually mean that at all. You don’t need to be eccentric -- -- out in a room of 500 people, like “Where is Waldo?” However, it doesn’t actually mean that at all. You don’t need to be eccentric to be an individual; you just have to be happy being yourself, and asserting your own ideas and opinions. In fact, if you try too hard you may get the opposite effect, and may find yourself being less -- -- + If you like to wear low-key earth-toned clothes, for example, stick to the style that you like instead of thinking that you need to change your wardrobe to really be an individual. + You don’t need to change your hair or makeup or to get a -- + You don’t need to change your hair or makeup or to get a tattoo, either. Being an individual comes from the inside. + Of course, everyone is different in some way, but not everyone is visibly different. If you are different for a cool reason -- -- languages or being an awesome break dancer, then don’t be afraid to strut your stuff. 4. Image titled Be an Individual Step 4 Image titled Be an Individual Step 4 4 -- -- Build up your confidence. Though building your confidence up won’t happen overnight, you can take steps to working toward loving and accepting the person who you truly are. You can’t be an individual without having confidence in the person that you are, so you should work on finding things to be grateful for, focusing on your -- -- strengths, and working on asserting yourself and being positive in social interactions. The more you focus on building your confidence, the sooner you’ll become a true individual. + One way to build up your confidence is to spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself. It’s hard to be -- -- the ground. Just projecting confidence can make you feel much better about yourself. 5. Image titled Be an Individual Step 5 Image titled Be an Individual Step 5 5 -- -- 5 Stick to your convictions. An important component of being an individual is sticking to your convictions and not letting other people make you change your opinions every time you get in a debate. Of course, it’s good to be open-minded and to be willing to -- -- you don’t need to be stubborn. [INS: :INS] 6. Image titled Be an Individual Step 6 Image titled Be an Individual Step 6 6 -- -- 6 Work on being more comfortable in your own skin. Another way to be an individual is to be happy and comfortable in your own skin. Work on developing a love for your body and mind, and make your presence known when you enter a room. If you hunch over, complain about -- -- inhabiting who you are, of being self-assured enough to state your opinions, and of learning to talk to new people without hesitation. + People who are true individuals are comfortable in their own skins because they don’t care what other people think of them. If you look comfortable and happy with what you’re doing, then -- -- If you look comfortable and happy with what you’re doing, then people will give you the respect you deserve. 7. Image titled Be an Individual Step 7 Image titled Be an Individual Step 7 7 -- -- Know that there is literally no one else like you in the world. This may sound silly, but if you want to change your perspective and work towards being an individual, then sometimes the best thing you can do is to stop and realize that there’s no other person in the world who has had the same upbringing, values, looks, and -- -- Part 2 Taking Action 1. Image titled Be an Individual Step 8 Image titled Be an Individual Step 8 1 -- -- Step 8 1 Find a new hobby. One way to be an individual is to find something that you truly and deeply care about and to make an effort to really explore it. If you don’t know what you’re good at yet, then -- -- to be a writer, photographer, or dancer, and this will give you even more confidence and conviction in your abilities. 2. Image titled Be an Individual Step 9 Image titled Be an Individual Step 9 2 -- -- 2 Explore your creative side. Not every person has to be creative to be an individual. However, exploring your creative faculties can open up new ideas and can make you feel more aware of new possibilities. Try your hand at writing a short story, a poem, a -- -- ceramics, oil painting, or charcoal sketching just to see what strikes your fancy. You don’t have to be particularly good at it, but you should be willing to try if you want to be an individual. + Even if all you can draw are stick figures, exercising the creative part of your brain can help you see the world in a -- -- + Even if all you can draw are stick figures, exercising the creative part of your brain can help you see the world in a new, original way. This is a big part of being an individual. + Being creative can also help you discover new ideas you didn’t know you had. You may never have thought about the world in a -- -- certain way until you tried your hand at writing short stories. 3. Image titled Be an Individual Step 10 Image titled Be an Individual Step 10 3 -- -- Step 10 3 Accept challenges. Another way to be an individual is to step outside of your comfort zone and to accept the new challenges the world may bring. Volunteer in a new part of town; run for class -- -- you know, but make an effort to try new things and to tackle new and difficult questions. + True individuals are always growing and changing. They face challenges with fortitude and work to find the best way to succeed, no matter how difficult the circumstances are. -- -- think you might fail, then you should take up the challenge and see what you can do. 4. Image titled Be an Individual Step 11 Image titled Be an Individual Step 11 4 -- -- 4 Spend more time with people you admire. Another way to be an individual is to surround yourself with independent thinkers whose ideas and ways of life you admire. You can learn a lot from people who are creative, interesting, and not afraid to be who they are. -- -- If you spend all of your time with followers or with people who don’t really have much to teach you about the world, then it’ll be harder for you to grow as an individual. + This doesn’t mean you should ditch every person who you deem to be too boring for you, but it does mean that you should -- -- seek out people who challenge you and inspire you to be a better version of yourself. 5. Image titled Be an Individual Step 12 Image titled Be an Individual Step 12 5 -- -- Step 12 5 Use your critical thinking skills. True individuals are critical thinkers. They evaluate every aspect of a situation before reaching a conclusion, and they use a large knowledge base to help them find -- -- their own research, making sure that they’re reaching the best conclusions instead of resorting to lazy or incomplete thinking. + True individuals think outside the box and know that most situations are more complicated than they seem. They don’t accept everything they hear at face value, even if it’s coming -- -- accept everything they hear at face value, even if it’s coming from a person they respect. + Individuals are always asking a lot of questions and aren’t afraid to admit when they don’t know an answer. They know that the best way to be informed is to question everything. -- -- science. The more you read, the more knowledge you gain, and the more information you have at your disposal. 6. Image titled Be an Individual Step 13 Image titled Be an Individual Step 13 6 -- -- 6 Don’t do things to fit other people’s expectations. One of the reasons you may be struggling with becoming an individual is because you feel like you have to fit the expectations of your parents, friends, significant other, or society at large. If you -- -- because you feel like you have to fit the expectations of your parents, friends, significant other, or society at large. If you truly want to be an individual, then you have to do what is best for yourself, not what your parents expect you to do. It can be hard to say no to people or to tell them that your goals are -- -- want to fall into a life that doesn’t feel like your own. + Of course, you shouldn’t go against all of the expectations of society just to be an individual, but because you really think you’re doing what’s best for you. For example, if you drop of out college, do it because you have a great reason for it, not -- -- Part 3 Developing Your Individuality 1. Image titled Be an Individual Step 14 Image titled Be an Individual Step 14 1 -- -- Step 14 1 Don’t try to fit a mold. If you want to be a true individual, then you can’t think of yourself as fitting a mold. You can’t just be preppy, a jock, a nerd, a hipster, or a regular frat guy, either. -- -- be a unique person. You can have elements of different molds of people, but you can’t be so easily able to be pinned down if you want to be a true individual. Instead of trying to be a certain type of person, work on developing qualities that you admire. + You can hang out with a certain type of person, but you don’t -- -- with. Variety is the spice of life, and things will be pretty boring if you look like everyone else you hang out with. 2. Image titled Be an Individual Step 15 Image titled Be an Individual Step 15 2 -- -- Step 15 2 Develop your authenticity. To be an individual, you have to be authentic. If people think you’re phony or putting on airs, they’ll be able to tell from a mile away. Instead of trying to be overly -- -- them, even if you think it’s a bit offbeat. If you’re not being sincere, they’ll be able to tell. 3. Image titled Be an Individual Step 16 Image titled Be an Individual Step 16 3 -- -- Step 16 3 Be more honest. To be an individual, you have to work on being an honest person who is comfortable with stating the truth, even when the circumstances are difficult. Avoid lying just to make yourself -- -- look better, to sugar coat the truth for your friends when they really need to hear it, or even to cheat in school or to get ahead in an unfair with. True individuals are genuine people who aren’t afraid of the truth and are comfortable enough with themselves to state it. -- -- her new haircut is too severe, is perfectly fine if you’re not hurting anyone. 4. Image titled Be an Individual Step 17 Image titled Be an Individual Step 17 4 -- -- 4 Address the flaws you can address. If you want to be a true individual, then you have to be willing to improve yourself. You can’t be content with every aspect of yourself or you’ll never grow and improve. Though you should work on accepting the things you -- -- take much longer than a few weeks. Still, making a plan to get there can help you grow faster. 5. Image titled Be an Individual Step 18 Image titled Be an Individual Step 18 5 -- -- Step 18 5 Be more assertive. To be a true individual, you have to be able to assert yourself and be comfortable stating your ideas. Speak clearly, be articulate, and look people in the eye when you want to -- -- well-meaning suggestions. Don’t let people walk all over you and don’t get stuck doing something because you’re too nice to say no. Individuals know what they want and think and they aren’t afraid to make it known. + If you feel really strongly about something, don’t let another -- -- statements like, “I will not work on another project with Karen.” 6. Image titled Be an Individual Step 19 Image titled Be an Individual Step 19 6 -- -- Step 19 6 Learn to laugh at yourself. True individuals know not to take themselves too seriously and are comfortable poking fun at themselves at the right time. They are aware of their flaws and are -- -- okay with not being perfect, and they don’t make people feel like they have to walk on eggshells around them, either. If you want to be an individual, then you should be as comfortable laughing at yourself as you are asserting your beliefs. It’s okay not to be serious all the time; it doesn’t make you any less of an -- -- yourself as you are asserting your beliefs. It’s okay not to be serious all the time; it doesn’t make you any less of an individual. + True individuals are always growing and always learning. You can’t be a true individual if you’re so serious about yourself that you can’t even laugh at your own flaws or be self-aware enough to want to change. -- -- that you can’t even laugh at your own flaws or be self-aware enough to want to change. 7. Image titled Be an Individual Step 20 Image titled Be an Individual Step 20 7 -- -- 7 Listen to your gut. Listening to your intuition is crucial if you want to be an individual. Sometimes, something like a job offer will look great on paper, and everyone will tell you that you should take it, but you may get a nagging feeling that you know -- -- should take it, but you may get a nagging feeling that you know it’s not really what you want to do with your life. If you really want to be an individual, then you have to work on knowing when you get a bad or good feeling about something and following those instincts instead of logic some of the time. -- -- get a bad or good feeling about something and following those instincts instead of logic some of the time. + Individuals are original thinkers. Though they think critically, read a lot, and use facts to back up their ideas, they are also able to trust themselves and sense when -- -- Español: ser original, Português: Ser um Indivíduo, Italiano: Essere un Individuo, Bahasa Indonesia: Menjadi Seorang Individual, Français: être un individu à part entière, Русский: быть индивидуальностью, Deutsch: Ein Individuum sein * Discuss * Print