The Courage to Stand Alone

Growing up, we are often told, “Fitting in is a virtue.”

From childhood, we are taught to blend into the group, to navigate social expectations, to follow the rules rather than be the “odd one out.” Finding a sense of belonging seems like the ultimate measure of maturity.

So, we learn to dull our edges in conversations, to go along with the majority, to stay silent when expected, to smile and nod at the right moments. Over time, fitting in becomes second nature—an assurance that as long as we are part of the crowd, we won’t be forgotten.

But in the stillness of late nights, when the noise fades, have we ever asked ourselves: Does this really make me happy?

When conformity leads to self-erasure, is it worth it?

“I Would Rather Be Myself”

The Chinese writer Shen Congwen once wrote, “I wrestle with myself, but I’d rather be me.”

Life is a constant tug-of-war between blending in and staying true to ourselves. We often mistake conformity for success, believing that being accepted by society is the ultimate validation. But real acceptance should be based on authenticity, not on a carefully crafted “appropriate version” of ourselves.

True independence is not about rejecting the world—it’s about refusing to lose ourselves in the current. It’s not shutting people out, but preserving our own thoughts amid a sea of voices. It’s not rebellion for its own sake, but the courage to walk an unpaved path when every other road is already taken.

Fitting in is easy. Standing alone is a choice.

Flying to Your Own Mountain

In Educated, Tara Westover describes how she broke free from an isolated, rigid upbringing. In her world, conformity meant obedience—following the voices of others instead of her own.

But she refused to accept that. She sought knowledge in hidden corners, glimpsed a broader world in books, and eventually walked away from the only life she had ever known to pursue something greater.

Her journey made me realize that standing apart isn’t just about being different—it’s about growing. If a bird is born in a cage, will it think the sky is an illusion?

True Belonging Comes from Being Yourself

Someone once asked me, “If no one else is walking this path, why would you choose it?”

I wanted to ask back, “If no one takes the first step, how will the world ever change?”

Steve Jobs once said, “The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

The world’s changemakers have always been those who stood apart. They challenged norms, dared to walk roads less traveled, and faced ridicule along the way. Yet, with unwavering conviction, they expanded the boundaries of possibility.

True independence isn’t loneliness—it’s a deeper kind of belonging. Not to a group, but to yourself.

I don’t reject community, nor do I seek isolation. But if fitting in means losing myself, if it means silencing my voice to please the world, then I choose to stand alone.

I would rather be real than be right.

I would rather chart my own course than be swept away by the tide.

I would rather lose the crowd than lose myself.

"I wrestle with myself, but I’d rather be me.""Fly to your own mountain."This time, I choose to fly.