Have you ever wondered if you often do things simply because they’re socially accepted, rather than because they’re right for you? What’s the point of that? If everyone were themselves, the world would be much more colorful, humanity would develop faster, and there wouldn’t even be pressure to conform to the norm, because there wouldn’t be a clearly defined one.

Being like everyone else brings you nothing but a false sense of security. The moment you voice an opinion or stand up for yourself, you’ll lose it anyway. People around you won’t like you for who you are, but because they think you’re like them. And you won’t have any real friends, nor will you feel any less lonely.

And yet, because of this illusion of security, people keep suppressing their true selves over and over again. And no, I’m not just talking about teenagers who want to be one of the cool kids at school. I’m talking about people of all ages who desperately seek approval and validation by conforming to their environment instead of asserting themselves.

Think about how many things are normalized with the argument “everyone does it,” even if they have no basis in reality. You have to post certain photos on social media to demonstrate a certain lifestyle, regardless of whether you actually have it or can afford it. You have to have a certain brand of phone because it gets you into the social circle you want to be in. You have to spend absurd amounts of money on cosmetic procedures every month because they guarantee you a certain status.

Being different these days even means accepting yourself as you are and being happy with who you are. Validation and self-esteem come from within. When you find them there, you can declare to the world, “This is me,” and need nothing else. Those around you can live however they choose without influencing your choices for yourself.

Dare to be yourself. Even when everyone tells you, “If you do this, you’ll be cool/liked/beautiful/rich,” tell them “thanks but no thanks”. Choose the things that align with your true self, and eventually, you’ll effortlessly have all those things—plus strong self-esteem and many new reasons to respect yourself.