The Power of Being Different
When you’re different, you have no one to follow. When you’re different, you may have no one to lead. But when you’re different, you’re free to go on the grandest, most glorious, most rewarding experience you desire.
Being different means great freedom
I am different. I’ve led a marching-to-the beat-of-my-own-drummer sort of life. For me, this has meant that I have no “lifelong” friends but have walked with great joy alongside others who are also walking a similar path, and we have been supportive of each other during that common part of our journey.
I have no desire to do anything like anyone else. No envy, no desire to emulate. Just the unfettered joy of exploration and discovery. It’s rather glorious, this walking my own path.
You may be alone
You’ll undoubtedly be alone. The more individualized the path you follow, the fewer people you’ll find going in a similar direction. Perhaps you’ll find someone exploring one facet to the same degree you are, but the truer you are to your own unique combination of gifts, the more alone you’ll be on your path.
Walking your own path means not only the freedom to live as you choose but the responsibility to care for yourself. All by yourself. We are each responsible for the look and feel of our lives. You control the direction and quality of your life by what you think and feel.
You may sometimes feel alone on the physical plane, but there’s a whole chorus of helping spirits available in the invisible world to guide and cheer you on. You’re not alone on the inner plane even if you feel alone on the outer one.
Helping spirits populate your world
Some 95% of our world is invisible. I love the freedom I feel when I go exploring in the inner realms. First of all, there’s unconditional love. It’s there for me always. And my job is to learn to accept it – then turn and give that unconditional love to others.
Every one of us has helping spirits, we just may not realize it. When I discovered the vast array of helping spirits available to me through shamanic meditative journeying, I began to journey every day. Sometimes I journey with questions, sometimes with a request for help with self-healing. And one day I showed up at my inner Sacred Garden and my helping spirits were cheering me for my latest accomplishment!!
Your helping spirits will guide you to the recognition of your higher purpose, the overview of your illumined service, the expansion and application of your particular gifts. You’re not on this path of uniqueness alone, you have a team of helping spirits guiding and guarding you.
All you do is journey and listen. Oh yes, and ask the right questions.
Honor your uniqueness
There are several obvious signs that you are actively exploring and expanding your unique gifts. If you feel you’re “different”, that’s because you’re actively cultivating your own uniqueness. You know your gifts, you know your calling, you know how an idea fits into your life. You act upon the insights and inspiration that are constantly and actively being offered to you.
When a new idea appears, you explore it, you take what resonates and make it your own. You question everything. If you’re drawn to something, you look closely to see why it calls to you and figure out unique ways to apply parts of it to your life. You seldom if ever take something in its entirety. There are always some questions, some adaptations, some exclusions. Being different means you shape things to fit your personal forward motion.
When you’re different, you open new doors
Because you see things differently, you find new ways to do things, see things, say things. Because you’re different, you walk a path that very few walk. Your unique journey inspires others to explore the facets you share that call to them. Because you’re different, you’re open to unusual opportunities, you explore more broadly, more deeply. You try things out. You try things on. You pick and choose and tweak and adjust. Until it fits your unique vision.
We’re all different and unique. We’re each uniquely wonderful. Some simply live more deeply in their uniqueness than others. Some of us walk along the edges of the common path. Some of us wander off…
Learn from those who are different
When you’re following your unique path, you develop different ways to cope, to live, to express yourself. When you experience someone who’s different, look to understand what lessons in adaptation they offer. Notice what they’re not settling for. Notice what they have and what they have not chosen to have, to utilize, to express. There are lessons in the looking.
Be the rock you are
Years ago, a friend told me I was a rock just as she was. People depended on us. I asked, “Who do rocks turn to for help?” Her reply: “Other rocks.”
When you’re different, you’re a stand-alone person and that means you need to be strong and self-sufficient. But you wouldn’t be called to express your uniqueness if you couldn’t do that. Trust. Trust yourself to make aligned choices. Trust yourself to see the wisest path. Trust yourself to – well – trust yourself!
Listen for your different-ness
Many years ago, I made a choice that was so unusual for my time that no one understood it. Nor did I. I just knew the call was so strong it would not be denied. I never questioned the calling. I just took the step and it opened up my life in ways I’d never have imagined.
Be brave, follow your inner wisdom
It takes courage to step off the beaten path. It takes stamina to keep going when you’re walking alone. It takes persistence to keep going when the trail gets narrow.
But when the calling is deep, you simply follow. You have no choice.
Follow your own beat. Follow your own heart. Rejoice in being different!!!
To Sing a Deeper Song, consider:
What are the Foundation Stones Upon Which You Build Your Life
