A newborn baby looks extraordinary in the parents’ eyes. However, since young, we’ve been taught to fit in with the rest of the world. We were told to be quiet, keep a low profile and not to be different. Otherwise, we would risk being ostracized. Soon, we forgot that we are extraordinary and we lost the unique voice that we have. Have you forgotten how extraordinary you are?
Here are 18 signs that remind you how extraordinary you are.
1. You read every day.
You believe in continuous learning. You are extraordinary because you invest time to improve yourself and your knowledge. Other people may see you as a bookworm or a nerd, but that shouldn’t discouraged you to read. One day, you will do something great with all the knowledge you have accumulated.
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2. You daydream and you dream big.
Most people are too busy to dream. You are extraordinary because you have dreams and aspirations. In fact, your dreams are so big that others see you as impractical and unrealistic. Some may even laugh at your dreams. But don’t let them stop you. You have a gift. Like Walt Disney and Steve Jobs, you have a vision that most others don’t have.
3. You stop to think and reflect.
While everyone is rushing their work to meet deadlines, you stop and understand the underlying problem. Your colleagues think you are slow, inefficient and overly cautious. But you are extraordinary because you don’t follow instructions blindly. You challenge status quo and find the best way to do your work.
4. You cry when you watch a touching movie or listen to a beautiful song.
You have empathy. You understand how others feel. Others may think that you can’t handle your emotions well. But you are extraordinary because you let your emotions flow naturally and allow yourself to be touched by something beautiful.
5. You help others without expecting anything in return.
People think that you are silly to help others without asking anything in return. You are extraordinary because you don’t see everything in dollars and cents. You enjoy helping others and being kind. That makes you happy and feel good.
6. You mediate in the morning.
You know your relationship with yourself is as important as your finance, career and relationships with others. So you practice yoga, mediate and say positive affirmations in the morning. Other people think you are weird. But don’t most successful people like Oprah Winfrey, Jack Canfield and Hugh Jackman take time to mediate in the morning?
7. You listen more than you speak.
You choose to listen more than you speak, not because you are shy, quiet or boring. You have opinions, but you are open to other people’s opinions too and willing to understand where they are coming from. You are extraordinary because you listen attentively and are genuinely interested in learning more about others.
8. You embrace and love failure.
Most people don’t like to fail. They rather be stagnant than risk failing. It’s not that you are a risk taker, careless or impulsive. You love failure because it tells you if you are on the right track. You are just testing to see what works and what doesn’t, so that you can decide what action to take next.
9. You are comfortable being alone.
You are independent. You have no problem eating alone, watching movie alone and going holiday on your own. Other people may see you as loner or anti-social. But you are just confident and comfortable with yourself. You don’t need constant attention and validation from others.
10. You don’t follow a strict routine.
Although you have a to-do-list, you don’t follow it a 100%. You get bored with routines easily, so you shake things up once in a while. Others may think you lack of self-discipline and self-control. But you are extraordinary because your life is never boring. You are always finding new ways to spice up your life.
11. You let go of things that don’t work.
People think you are a quitter because you give up too easily and lack of persistence. But in your mind, you are not giving up, you are just letting go of things that don’t work. Why continue to pursue something when you realize it won’t work for you or it’s not something that you want after all?
12. You take care of yourself before others.
Sometimes, others mistake you as selfish, indifferent and uncaring. But you are extraordinary because you see the importance of taking care of yourself first. You know you have to serve your needs and not be a liability for others. You don’t depend on other people to take care of you.
13. You never stop asking questions.
You are inquisitive and curious. You want to know how things work and you don’t take things at face value. Others may find you bothersome and irritating. But you are extraordinary because you care about the world. You don’t ask for the sake of asking. You ask to understand more about the world, so as to make it better and be more appreciative of it.
14. You seldom express anger in front of others.
Sure, you get angry and irritated by people and things around you sometimes. But you hardly express anger because you are compassionate. You know it doesn’t feel good to be on the receiving end of someone else’s anger. Others may see you as a pushover or weak. However, you know the value of harmony, so you make the effort to preserve it.
15. You are positive and see beauty in everything.
You are easily inspired by others and the things around you. Others think you are overly positive and optimistic. But you are extraordinary because you believe there’s goodness in everyone. Although you know that there is always room for improvement, but you would rather focus on the positives and be happy, instead of dwelling on the negatives.
16. You consult your heart when making decision.
You know that something doesn’t feel right if your heart isn’t consulted when making decisions. Others see you are as unintelligent or too emotional. But you know that your heart is as important as your mind when it comes to decision-making. Both of them need to be in agreement, otherwise you won’t feel committed to take action.
17. You allow yourself to do what you love.
You are extraordinary because you don’t force yourself to do something you hate. People think that you are silly to spend so much time and money on your passion. But you know doing what you love makes you happy. You know your time and money aren’t spent, but rather invested in your happiness.
18. You love yourself.
Most people blame themselves and others when things don’t go their way. You are extraordinary because you love yourself and treat yourself kindly. When something doesn’t work out, you ask yourself nicely for solutions. You don’t call yourself names and judge yourself.
Celebrate Being Extraordinary
It’s okay if you don’t match with the 18 signs above. Everyone is extraordinary in their own special way. So share your gift with the world. Don’t hide behind the curtain. It’s time to celebrate your unique self.
Featured photo credit: CIA DE FOTO via flickr.com
