I am unoriginal?

Question

Alright, I'm a senior in High School and I can't seem to shake the feeling that I'm just an embodied copy of everyone else around me. People have literally come up to me and have said this, and I 'm starting to believe them. I feel like my likes and dislikes breed from the suggestions of others. I mean, I have my own opinion about things, like music, art, literature, politics etc. but it seems like that position or opinion wouldn't be there if it weren't for someone suggesting it to me. It's a terrible feeling, like I haven't once have had an original idea in my whole entire life, whether it was on a paper, in class or just in general. All of my friends seem to be able to bring stuff to the table, and I seem to just sit, watch, and agree. I don't even know who I am anymore, and the fact that I'm unoriginal brings a terrible feeling of insignificance to my own life. I can't go through life knowing that I'm a carbon copy of my environment, someone have a suggestion?

Answer 1

I know what you mean, and I feel it too sometimes. The way society works is that people all start to copy each other, and that becomes the 'norm'. It sounds like you were just following the norm or whatever, and by following the norm you blend in with everybody else. On the bright side, by being part of the 'norm', and by blending in with everybody else, you should 'fit in' pretty well with everybody and because you are very balanced, you should be a socially well-rounded person. (A psychologist once defined 'social IQ' to me as the ability to hang out with different, diverse people and hold a conversation with any/many of them. It sounds like you'd have a good one, because you're so balanced via exposure to everybody's ideas.)

There's no real way you can completely avoid influence from everybody else. However, instead of taking other people's influences as a negative thing, take it as a positive thing. You can learn from other people based on their opinions and ideas, habits and dress styles, among other things. Even if you don't follow their styles, you can pick up on different trends and learn more about people.

However, as far as being unique... don't worry about it too much. Whenever someone tells you something, think about what they said. If ideas they talk about sound good to you, then you probably would like those ideas, and you should keep that in mind. If things they say don't sound right, you can just file that away as something you don't want to be/do/etc. Use your conscience and your mind to decide what you want to be. There's nothing wrong with listening to others for self-guidance, and it can be a good way to learn more about yourself!

Answer 2

Just the fact that you think this way makes you entirely different than your friends.  You'll be fine...maybe you'll be a great thinker someday...you have a good start.

Answer 3

I never saw that question before.

You're original, Q.E.D.

(if you don't know the abbreviation, look it up, one more point on the originality-scale!)

Cheer up mate!

And if you can't and you're really down, think about this: You're unique, just like everybody else.

Answer 4

try to be different!  when your friends say something about a band for example: really think about the band and if u truly like it or is it just because they do? then you can slowly start finding yourself! maybe if someone is new to your school u can introduce yourself {they dont know you} so try being a person completely different from the people around you, see if you like it! try trying different personalities like trying on new clothes until you find the right one, just make sure your friends and people around dont think you have multiple personality disorder lol