The Complete Guide to Fearing Being Ordinary and How to Overcome it
What is the Fear of Being Ordinary?
According to dictionary.com by definition, ordinary means the following:
- of no special qualty or interest.
- plain or undistinguishable.
The fear of being ordinary is common and many have faced this fear at some point in their lives. This is the fear that one will not be able to stand out and will, therefore, be left behind.
Often this fear will lead to insecurity and low self-esteem. Feeling ordinary can create a downward spiral of not feeling worthy or good enough. Unfortunately, if one is left feeling this way for long periods of time, rebounding back will be difficult.
What Causes the Fear of Being Ordinary?
It is true, some are more susceptible to this fear than others. In fact, research has shown, people that who are not confident in their abilities are more likely to have a fear of being ordinary or general anxiety. (source: Verywellminded.com)
Many have a fear of rejection and in turn, don’t push themselves out of their comfort zone for anxiety of being criticized by others.
Yet, if you have a fear of being average, fortunately, there are some things you can do to help you gain confidence and get over your fears.
Why You Shouldn’t Worry About the fear of being ordinary
The fear of being ordinary is a fear that is common among people. It can be a paralyzing feeling, but it doesn’t have to be. This is because the fear of being ordinary can actually be a good thing.
Often we feel like we have to keep up, and honestly, this is no way to live because you can never keep up with everyone. So try to focus on being happy for others’ successes and keep in mind, there are many miracles in ordinary things such as family, nature, and food.
As you read, we will explore what the fear of being ordinary means and why you shouldn’t worry about it. We will also explore how it can actually be a good thing in some situations.
How to Overcome the Fear of Being Ordinary? 7 Tips to Move Forward
The fear of being ordinary is something that plagues many people in their everyday lives. They worry that if they don’t stand out in some way, then they will be lost in the crowd. This fear can lead to people feeling like they are not good enough when in reality it’s just a matter of perspective. It is possible you also have a feeling of powerlessness over your life.
#1 Take Control
The first step to overcoming your fear of being ordinary is to take control of your life. Realize you are in the driver’s seat and you make decisions for yourself. Make sure you are not letting others influence your decisions and be strong.
Stary by writing down some life goals. Make sure to set realistic goals and start small with weekly and monthly goals. Also, set goals for a one-year plan and a five-year plan. What do you want your life to look like? If you start achieving some of your goals, this will help your fear of being ordinary.
Related: How to Write a Detailed Life Goal List
#2 Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
Have you heard the saying, “Comparison is the thief of joy”? This saying holds true in the fear of being ordinary.
The next step to overcoming this fear is to stop comparing yourself to others and start appreciating your own uniqueness. It’s important to remember that you are one of a kind and there is no one else like you on this Earth.
It is often hard not to compare ourselves to others in our social media-driven world. If social media is making you feel less than you are, it is time to take a digital detox and put your device away. Limit time spent on social media and notice the fears, jealousy, and anxiety melting away.
Often we don’t realize, many posts the best parts of their lives. That is not to say, people on social media don’t have problems too. However, most are not posting these issues on social media. Other accounts that show perfect pictures may be influencers working with a team of people. So don’t worry so much if you don’t compare. The things you see may not be real life anyway.
There will always be someone who is better than you at something, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not good enough for anything. You just have different skills than other people do!
#3 Be Grateful
Gratitude is one way to keep you centered and focuses. Instead of focusing on what you are not, focus on the things you like about yourself and the aspects of your life you are grateful for.
First, give yourself gratitude for getting up today and living. Not everyone woke up this morning, and many people are bed-ridden. You are able to get up and live life and for this be grateful.
Second, try making a list each morning of things you are grateful for in life. It changes your perspective when you see how many blessings are bestowed upon you.
Third, try setting a timer on your phone and reminding yourself to be grateful throughout the day. It is easy to forget, as the day gets going and the timer can be used as a gentle reminder to generate an attitude of gratitude.
#4 Take Every Opportunity
If you feel you are destined for greatness, don’t let fear of being ordinary hold you back. Seize every opportunity that comes your way.
Things will not always happen as you planned, so be aware of the people and events that come into your life. You will eventually walk into the right opportunity and you must be ready.
Don’t let fear hold you back and convince yourself, you are not good enough. If it is time to shine, then do your best and push yourself to do more for yourself.
#5 Give it Your All
If you are going to do anything in life, make it your best. Don’t waste time putting forth little effort. If you did your best on something and it didn’t work out, you will have no regret or any “what if” thoughts. You know you did the best that you can do and that is enough. Keep trying and other opportunities will arise in life.
#6 Let Go of Perfectionsism
If you feel you have to be perfect all the time, you are really creating a lot of unnecessary work in your life and probably making everyone around you miserable. Letting go of perfectionism will help your fear of being ordinary. There is no need to be perfect in life and as long as you show up and give it your all, you did enough.
Each and every day, you are enough right where you are. Striving for perfection is humanly impossible, because, well, humans are not perfect. We all make mistakes and we all oversleep, and we are all late sometimes. Don’t worry so much about your imperfections, yet focus on the things that make you thrive.
#7 Meditation
If you want to get rid of fear and anxiety, try meditation. It may sound weird to just sit and think of nothing, but there are guided meditations that help you focus your energy on things that matter to you.
Meditation is scientifically proven to reduce stress and people that meditate are also happier.
Start by meditating for only five minutes per day. Be present and try not to think too much. If you are new to meditation, try a guided meditation. You can find thousands of these on Youtube.
How the Fear of Being Ordinary Can be a Good Thing
Although living with fear is not the best use of your time, feeling like you need to do more in life can actually help push you toward working on your goals. If you want greatness, being lax on goals, will not take you very far. Use your fear of being ordinary to push yourself and move toward living your best life. Remember, your best life, is what you want out of life, without comparing yourself to others.
Final Thoughts on the Fear of Being Ordinary…
If you fear being ordinary, try not to worry. Your time will come to shine and try not to compare yourself to others. Different things happened to people for a reason and you are unique and special no matter what you do in life. Never forget it!