Our attention driven digital landscape, which really got its start with commercials preying on our insecurities, has tunnelled us towards a generic personality.

We categorize behaviour and people based on tendencies and in turn, those same people conform to the categories.

Tell someone they’re a liberal and their voice will echo the expected response. Ditto for any political platform, issue or organization of people.

In an effort to have a sense of belonging, we unknowingly acquiesce to a narrative. This is who we are, this is our scene and therefore this will be my way of thinking and being.

However, it was never really our full decision to be this way. We worked our way into it and the path was formed for us as a way to prevent having our own unique voice because the myth is standing out prevents you from fitting in.

To have a voice, you must first be willing to stand for something. While it pays to have an open mind, I refer back to G.K. Chesterton who so eloquently put, “The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.”

(On that note, make sure that something solid you’re standing on is actually a solid).

Then you must be willing to take a stand, even if means being ostracized from people who you consider your own tribe. There is nothing to fear as you will quickly join (or lead) another tribe the moment it happens.

Finally, you must stay strong.

Keep doing so and your voice will stand out.