It makes me feel better to think that fitting in is not what you do to be extraordinary because I certainly do not fit in. The idea of purposefully not fitting in encourages me to look at my individuality as my personal path to being extraordinary. I love that! Are you extraordinary? Do you wish you fit in more? What does extraordinary mean to you?
Extraordinary people follow their passion
Passion is your “have to” place. I “have to do this.” Your passion is found in the core urges that you eagerly follow throughout your life. It has always expressed itself. You just have to identify your passion and put it to work.
Extraordinary people are true to their passion. They follow that burning desire, that deep-seated calling. They make it the cornerstone of their lives. Not only do they encourage the expression of their passion, they put it to work in different venues.
Extraordinary people cultivate their gifts
We each have unique gifts, those combinations of talents that we must hone and combine and use in order to express our passion. All my life, I’ve expressed myself through writing. I use my voice to share and teach and inspire others. To me, those are obvious and cherished gifts. But there are subtle gifts too, like curiosity and love of learning. What gifts have you been given and how enthusiastically are you using them?
Extraordinary people constantly question and make new choices
Life is a series of cycles, which means everything is changing all the time. That means we have to change too. In order to make aligned choices, we have to know what we want and need, we have to be clear about the values we have chosen and we need to make certain we are as deeply in service as we can be.
A year ago I repositioned my web presence. Recently I looked again to see where I am, how far I’ve come, and what needs to be done next. Time and distance gave me a much clearer picture of my purpose and direction. Once I noticed how I’d changed, I could ask more aligned questions. What do I need to let go? What do I need to add? How am I changing and growing because of what I do? Self-awareness is the key to making aligned choices. Question everything and pay attention to the answers you receive.
Extraordinary people have clear values
The first time I was asked to name my values I realized I had never given them any thought. Not only do I now understand my core values, but each year I chose three new words that keep me focused on values that are important to me.
“Unfolding” is a core value that influences everything I do, from non-planning to no deadlines. I let life and circumstances unfold around me. What values are you exploring and bringing to the forefront of your life?
Extraordinary people express their authentic self
When we are authentic, we cherish our gifts, we are true to our values, we follow our passion. We are true to ourselves. The more you express your authentic self, the more aligned you will be with your core purpose and the less you will fit in. You will stand out in your individuality. You will be different. And you will be very happy.
Extraordinary people have the courage to stand alone
Not fitting in looks lonely but in reality it’s not. It is actually a very strong position. Because I stand alone, I’m free to go exploring exactly where I want to go. I’m not held back by anyone—not by their ideas or their opinions or their words. I am free, truly free to expand my gifts, to question my beliefs, to explore everything that shows up and decide, in the moment, what I want to do and what I do not want to do. I do not have to compromise my time, my work, or my values. Standing alone gives me great freedom.
I’m in an unusual circumstance of truly being free to write about, talk about, learn about the things that matter most to me. I’m exploring my essence and, although I had to go online to do it, I have found others who are interested in taking a similar journey.
I’m standing alone in a group of people who are also standing alone. None of us fit in our local communities. None of us want to. But we do welcome an opportunity to walk along beside others and share a part of our journey.
Extraordinary? It means outside of ordinary, beyond ordinary. I like that.
To Sing a Deeper Song consider:
My Three Words for 2015
How Are You Harvesting Your Crop?
05-Do You Have the Courage to Stand Alone
06– Unfolding And The Art Of Wu Wei
