You’re Not Special And That’s A Good Thing
Our greatest fault is assuming we are different from the rest.
Like some special snowflake, we identify with the 0.000001%, considering ourselves unique in the grand spectrum of life and humanity.
Not only is this flawed, but it’s also detrimental to our mental well-being.
Assuming you’re special limits you to a box in of which you are the sole resident. No friends, no family; no-one you can identify or communicate with.
Assuming you’re special allows for the continual self-feeding of white lies:
“Everything will work out, it’s your life”
“Things will fall into place naturally, i was always meant to be successful/famous/rich”
“I’m special, that can’t happen to me”
Truth is, you’re not special and that’s a good thing.
There’s over 7 billion humans on this planet right now and many more billions that have existed beforehand. That’s direct empirical evidence that disproves your claim to unrepeatedness.
Someone better/faster/smarter/more artistic has and now lives. Knowing that as simple fact enables you to do better.
Live life with your strengths and your weaknesses, progressing in the areas you love, abandoning the ones you don’t. Live life in the search for your own meaning, knowing that it’s personal to you but not indistinguishable from the rest. Live life knowing that this world wasn’t tailored to you; instead, it’s what you make of it.
There’s strength to be found in numbers. Use your commonalities to build bridges of friendship with others; use your raw, authentic, humanity to be yourself and attract those who want to be attracted.
Accepting that you’re not special takes the pressure off. It creates space and time to breathe for a second — A second in which you understand that you’re not alone. You’re not the first to feel this way and you certainly won’t be the last. Your struggles may be personal to you but struggle is familiar to everyone.
Every time i catch myself worrying about my own issues i like to take a second and remember i’m not alone. There’s lives being lived by the most unfortunate of souls and although i empathise for their pain, i’m grateful i’m not them. The very fact that you’re reading this now means there’s someone much worse off than yourself.
You’re not special because anything you do, say or be has been done before. That doesn’t mean you can’t find your own personality that’s subjectively unique to yourself and those around you; simply, that in the grand scheme of things, nothing’s really unique.
Being indistinguishable in the universe’s impartial gaze is truly amazing. Be you, but remember you’re not special.
As Always,
Yours Honestly,
Commodore Pipas
