How Not to Live an Ordinary Life

How can you not live an ordinary life? Here’s the answer: Be yourself.

Let me explain…

What is an ordinary life? Ordinary life can have different meanings. For some people, ordinary means simple. But a simple life isn’t a bad one. Not if you choose a simple life. What is the difference between a simple life and an ordinary life?

Here’s what an ordinary life looks like: You grow up in your town, go to the school your parents tell you to go to, follow the career path that will make your family happy, work hard to impress fake friends, choose a partner that you kind of like…

In short, “ordinary people” work hard all their lives for “something more”, ending up living the most ordinary lives. Ordinary in the sense that they’re just like everyone else. An ordinary life is one that is based on the expectations of culture, society, and others. Society tells us we need to be “extraordinary” in order to matter. This can make us feel frustrated. But trying to be extraordinary because someone wants us to is exactly what living an ordinary life means.

I call this the life of sacrifice.  

Here’s what a simple life looks like: You grow up in your town, choose your school, choose your job and career, hang out with friends, spend your life with a partner. You live a happy life made of small pleasures. 

Life is really simple. And a simple life isn’t a bad one. If you are very content with the way that you are right now, that’s great. You don’t need to live an “extraordinary life”. Don’t stick to a particular ideology. Don’t follow the crowd. Appreciate nature and simple things. Appreciate and be content with what you have right now. Sleep when you are sleepy and eat when you are hungry.

And now, here’s what the offbeat life looks like: You grow up with big dreams, leave your town when still young, move to different cities, meet new people, explore the world. You want to get everything out of life. Till the last breath. Till the last drop. You don’t settle for the average, wait for a partner who is the only one for you, live a passionate life. 

In short, if you’re good with a simple life, that’s great. But most people choose a simple life not because they want to but because it’s the easy route. It’s the one they’re told to take. From people who did the same. If you want more from life, you need to establish what “more” means. Most people who try to be extraordinary don’t manage to do this. Why? Because we can’t do things that we have to do but only those that we want to do. That’s why you should be yourself to achieve greatness.

Do you have a feeling that an ordinary life is not enough for you? Good. You’re one of us. You’re one that wants more from life. You know you’re offbeat. It's only the fear of the unknown that is holding you back. But not facing this fear will hurt you much more than the “unknown” ever will.

How do you live a life out of the ordinary?

It’s all up to you. You are responsible for changing your life and making it the way you want. None can — or will — help you. You have to get the energy you need to achieve everything you want.