How many non-conformists our their stay true to their beliefs and how do you do this?

Question

Without letting anything break you!

Answer 1

I just live my life the way I want to. I don't apologize to people for it, I don't expect them to all like me, and I don't expect anyone to understand why i want to do things my way. I give them the same courtesy as I expect for myself.

Humor goes a very long way in dealing with people's opinions. The more serious you are, the more you invite criticism. Keep it light, keep it funny and keep it your way--and you end up being a leader instead of being beaten down by others.

I'm a firm believer in "you attract what you are."  Be tolerant, and you'll attract tolerance. Be confident and you'll attract confidence.  

Answer 2

I just realize that I can't truly be a non-conformist  given that I live in a capitalistic democracy/border line theocracy.  Conformity isn't something that we really have control over.  We are "Condemned to be free" as Sartre said.

Answer 3

I don't think that staying true to your beliefs has to be so strict a thing.

For example, one way I deviate from the American norm is that I'm an atheist.  In any given situation it can be a bit difficult to say what exactly it is to 'stay true to this belief.'  If there is a wedding or a funeral with a mass, I don't pray, and I don't take communion.  I do stand when others stand, but I don't kneel when others kneel.  Should I not stand?  Am I not staying true to my beliefs?  What about when I am in a situation where people say grace at the table I am at?  How should I handle it--what is staying true to my beliefs exactly?

How about this: once when I lived with a host-family in Japan my host-father taught be to pray at their Buddhist alter, the alter of his dead grandmother.  I lit the candle, rang the bell, put my hands together, etc.  Was I compromising my beliefs?

No, because at the end of the day I still don't believe in religion.  Silly deviations in behavior mean nothing.  In a good discussion, in an appropriate setting--that is the right time to discuss and assert my beliefs.  But in daily life things are much more complicated.

Answer 4

stick to your beliefs but without God it wont help..

Answer 5

I define my OWN morality and don’t judge others based on theirs.

I am interested in creative, spontaneous solutions to my problems and the problems of our society…I don’t guilt others or shift blame for problems that occur.

I am accepting of society as a whole…respecting differences in myself and others WITHOUT compromise.

When I am ‘against the norm’ I have to accept the consequences for my behavior and stay strong in the choices that I made…because MOST OF ALL... I do not rely on others to define who I am.

Good luck...and good question!