Different is the New Unique
It is now widely accepted that human beings are not the same, despite the fact that we have a lot of things in common. We can share the same features, similar backstories or like-minded thoughts, but what is it that makes a person different from another? There are many answers to this question; it could be the way we were raised during our childhood, the place where we were born, the family we grew up in or the traditions and culture passed down to us by our families. So, what is it that makes us so different from one another? All of it. The combination of these factors previously mentioned results in the creation of an identity, a unique identity for each one of us that keeps developing through time.
Life is complex. There is no one-size-fits-all guide to tell you what to do, what path to take or what choice to make. There is no clear right or wrong. And that is where we thrive as people — the chance to define ourselves and find out what makes us unique.
A study conducted by psychologists from UCLA in 2022 found that the influence of different cultures shapes the way we perceive visuals and time. For example, an Asian person has a perception of the world that may differ from a Hispanic person’s perception. We all have different lived experiences and perspectives, and that’s what makes life interesting.
Empathetic approaches, a.k.a. putting ourselves in each others shoes, are useful, even if it’s just to learn how to adapt your skills to a different job, like improving your workflow and productivity or by slowing down and learning to pay attention to the details. Different perceptions bring very interesting points of view, even when in a group of people who think similarly. It’s refreshing and new, to see and admire the world differently, especially when you open yourself up to seeing some of the unique ways different communities are impacted by the world around us.
There is another difference that can make a difference among others — emotions. The way we express our emotions are different on a person-to-person basis. Some may be shy, some may be courageous and some may be open-hearted. What’s really interesting is how a person’s culture and identity can stand out, even through expressing their emotions. Across the world there are more than 3,000 cultures that have different manners, traditions, ways of speaking and more. But how do any of these differences affect the way a person feels?
When you meet someone who feels their emotions vastly different from yours, it can be weird or jarring at first. It’s odd how others feel the same emotions as you but express them in completely different ways. Imagine you are traveling around the world with an adventurous and brave attitude, you are not afraid of challenges and you know how to live your life. Suddenly, you come across a person from another culture.
This person is more of a bookworm, likes to stay at home and lose themself in books. You two get to know each other and start to understand different ways to live, you understand that maybe you weren’t as brave as you thought and she wasn’t as shy as she looked. When you come back home, you start to change your ways of living and adopt new traditions, you have accomplished new tasks — all because you were open to seeing and learning different perspectives.
Meeting someone so similar yet so different from you makes you question everything you thought you knew. How they express their feelings, how they use emotions to solve a problem or to live — it’s amazing how a different point of view can change your own feelings. Despite the fact you weren’t raised to feel and see things like they may have been, meeting someone else who handles their emotions differently can be exhilarating and refreshing. It allows you to grow personally, too.
Our differences can make us unique in different communities. We can maintain our own way of living, perceiving, looking and feeling, and yet that isn’t what makes us unique.
What makes us unique is how our differences can bring us closer to other cultures, the way we can share our experiences and learn from others, the way we can combine our identities to work together and create something different. Something special. Something unique. So, please keep learning from others, keep listening, keep being unique and special in your own way.
Magali Corrales is a sophomore at UADE, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she is studying public relations. She loves challenges and learning and enjoys trying new things every day. Magali is passionate about writing and reading and is focused on developing her writing skills.
