The fear of standing out from the crowd and the immense pressure people often feel to be accepted and to blend in is not something that goes away just because someone reaches adulthood. In fact, the need to be accepted can be a driving force for many adults, and as a result, unique thinkers may not ever see how important and useful their contributions may be. In fact, those unique thinkers may actually be leaders waiting to happen.
You should never silence yourself because of fears that others may not like what you have to say. Just because your opinion is different does not mean is less valid or less important than others. Let your voice be heard, and stop allowing your need to fit in to be the driving force behind how you put your talents to use.
If you find it difficult to make yourself heard, just remind yourself that life is short. The time you have is precious, and you shouldn’t waste a second of it waiting for the right time to speak up. The best and brightest minds are all unique thinkers, so can you imagine what the world would be like without the contributions of inventors, entrepreneurs and business leaders. The best leaders are the ones who aren’t afraid to say what they think—even if it isn’t something everyone will immediately like or understand.
As a unique thinker, your leadership capacity is limitless. Don’t hold yourself back from reaching your true potential by being shy or afraid to express yourself. Put your ideas to work, and stop allowing fear to silence you. You may be different, and your thought process may be unique, but it is people like you who are the most capable of leading well and accomplishing new things in every area from politics to scientific research.