There Can Only be One - And You're it!

You are unique, a one of a kind, one and only. Perhaps that is why you sometimes feel like you don’t fit in. Think about it. Every encounter, conversation and experience has made you who you are today. From the place you grew up, to the level of income, even the color of your hair, eyes and skin have molded you into who you are today. You are so unique that it shows up on a cellular level, fingerprints. However there is more to being unique than just the physical.

Even though identical twins have the same fingerprints, their parents will tell you that they are different. Why? It is because of the different experiences they encounter throughout their lives. Imagine being told from the time you can first remember that you were born two minutes later than your twin. What kind of effect would that have on you? Sure, it may be a fun tease but after a while, the underlying tone is that the other twin is somehow better than you. Of course, that’s not the truth. If identical twins end up unique then so do you.

Look at your own life thus far. What unique blend of natural talents and experiences do you have? You have something that makes you different, something that makes you stand out from others. You are blessed with unique gifts. Sure you may come across someone that you think is more gifted, but that would be like comparing apples to oranges because:

 

a. No one else has the same combination of gifts that you have.

b. No one else will express his or her gifts, as you will.

c. No one else will look, hear, or feel the same way that you do, therefore, it’s impossible for someone else to create or solve something in the same way that you will.

You have these unique experiences that have made you who you are today. Use them to your advantage. There are countless business people, performers and athletes, who have come from humble beginnings to beat the odds and go on to achieve great things. Everything they went through made them who they are today and if you ask them, they wouldn’t change a thing. It is precisely the experiences they had that gave them the drive and ambition to be who they are. The question to ask yourself then is would you change anything?

The great thing about you is that you are one of a kind. That means there can be no comparison, there is no one to compete with but you. You are in a league all your own.

If you think back to the times when you have experienced emotions such as envy, jealousy and low self-esteem it was likely when you were comparing yourself to others’ talents and success. The more you thought about it the more you began to feel bad about yourself.

"If you're able to be yourself, then you have no competition. All you have to do is get closer and closer to that essence."

~ Barbara Cook

Instead, you should be rejoicing in their success because they have found a way to express what they do well. Better yet, you can to the same thing. It won’t show up in the same way as someone else because you will put your own spin on it, your own signature. For example, there are songs that have been redone by different artists, they each sing it a little differently by changing the breaks, phrasing and key it is in. Country artists will take rock songs and do them with a country flavor, while pop artists vamp up a country song like, “I Will Always Love You.” There is quite a bit of difference between Dolly Parton singing it and Whitney Houston. Each put their heart into it and the result was unique for each of them. The closer you get to who-you-are, your essence, the less competition you will have. The challenge is in discovering what makes you unique, your stand out quality.

You need to look deep inside yourself.

Give yourself the space to discover your own unique gifts

Acknowledge them,

Embrace them,

And finally ….Own them