Get the transcript here.

Question for you…when’s the last time you were okay with just being…weird?

It’s definitely not an easy thing to ignore the expectations of society, what those around us expect us to be and do, especially in today’s world.

But eventually, we absolutely can get to a place where we’re okay with chucking out the mold society tries to force on us. We can embrace being our weird, nerdy selves. Letting go of expectations and the pressure to be “perfect” isn’t an easy adventure to go on, but once we take those first steps, we open the door to confidence, empowerment, and even productivity.

So, what does it really means to embrace your weirdness? How can it transform your life.

It took me a while to fully embrace my inner weirdness. Growing up, I was always trying to fit into the “normal” box society hands us. You know the one: act a certain way, dress a certain way, have your life together in a certain way.

And it never worked for me. It was exhausting, and if I’m honest, it was not realistic of me to expect my brain to compute all of the “popular” ways of dressing and acting and following through on those expectations. My attempts just made me stand out as the awkward, not-cool-at-all freak.

For me, moving away to school and finding my “family” while working at Borders was a turning point. I was surrounded by this amazing group of women who embraced their quirks and celebrated their weirdness.

With them, I felt like I could finally be myself – awkward jokes, nerdy obsessions, and all. It didn’t happen overnight, but slowly, I started shedding the expectations society had placed on me. I let go of the need to be perfect and became mostly okay with being an imperfect weirdo.

Finding my family of weirdos taught me something important: being different is not just okay – it’s something to celebrate.

We need to be honest with ourselves, though – letting go of society’s expectations isn’t easy. We’re bombarded with messages about who we’re supposed to be and what we’re supposed to achieve.

Comparisons are shoved down our throats every where we turn – through commercials, magazines, influencers, and toxic, white patriarchal media. We grow up in a world where we learn to constantly compare ourselves to what our ears and eyeballs are being fed, reinforcing these unrealistic standards.

It’s going to take time to break free from that mental hold. But the loosening of that hold and the feelings of calmness that come as we begin to break free are worth the time and effort it takes.

One thing that helped me was allowing myself space to reframe and realize just how unrealistic these expectations are. Society tells us we need to have the perfect career, the perfect body, the perfect home – but none of those things are truly achievable.

The perfect anything doesn’t exist. It’s all a moving target designed to make us feel like we’re never enough. Reframing your beliefs and thoughts in this area, and recognizing that these expectations are the problem – not you – can be incredibly freeing.

Of course, breaking free from those expectations – even after you take the time to do the mental work and reframing of your beliefs and habits when it comes to the comparison traps – can stir up anxiety and guilt. Guilt over the belief that you’re letting people down or that you’re somehow failing by not meeting those standards. Anxiety over how you’ll be perceived by others – whether friends, family, or society in general – when you stop following those expectations and constantly comparing yourself to everyone else.

It can feel impossible to move forward. We know that society’s expectations are the problem, but we don’t know how we can possibly actually break free of them, because good lord our brains are going to go haywire.

So how do we counteract those feelings of anxiety and guilt so they don’t control you?

Well, we can start with some more reframing. Instead of seeing the guilt and anxiety as proof that we’re doing something wrong, we can view them as signs that we’re challenging old patterns, rejecting the thought patterns and beliefs that were harming us, and stepping into something new.

And if the anxiety and guilt get to be too much for our brains, if the mental load becomes too much – we can reach out to a professional to help us work through these feelings and beliefs.

It will be uncomfortable, it will feel wrong to challenge society, but the guilt is a sign that we’re doing the work and breaking free. Processing these feelings in the way that is best for us and letting them pass can help us move forward, even when it feels tough.

And while we’re processing those feelings, let’s talk about imperfections. It’s so easy to ruminate on the ways we feel we don’t measure up. But imperfection is normal. There’s no such thing as perfection, no matter how hard we try.

Just because we’re not perfect at something doesn’t mean we’ve failed. It doesn’t mean we’re a disappointment to society – or to ourselves.

What would happen if we stopped seeing imperfections as flaws and started seeing them as part of what makes us unique? What if we loved ourselves because of our imperfections, not in spite of them?

Our imperfections are what make us the unique, goofy, fun weirdos that we are. And as we learn to be ok with our imperfections, we learn to be ok with ourselves.

Now, let’s talk about experimenting and exploring. We may not even know what makes us happy because we’ve spent so long trying to do things the way society expects us to. Experimenting allows us to break free from those expectations and figure out what actually works for us. To figure out what we actually like and enjoy.

Maybe you try a new hobby, like knitting or hiking. Maybe you test out a new way of organizing your day, like trying a new task management system or time blocking. The key is to approach your exploration and experimentation with curiosity and an open mind. You don’t have to commit to anything forever – just give something new a try and see how it feels.

Experimenting has helped me discover so much about what makes my brain and my soul feel good. I’ve tried out different tools and systems and hobbies that have let me learn more about myself and connect with myself at a deeper, soulful level. It’s allowed me to let go of the things that don’t serve me and make room for the things that do.

As you experiment and explore, you’ll start to feel more comfortable embracing your uniqueness and celebrating your differences. There’s absolutely no reason to force yourself into a mold that doesn’t fit you.

You’re allowed to be different, to be quirky, to be weird. And as you get more comfortable with that, you’ll find it easier to show up as your authentic self.

That doesn’t mean you have to shout your weirdness from the rooftops – unless you want to. Start small. Practice showing up as yourself in ways that feel safe but still allow you to shine. Maybe it’s wearing that funky shirt you love, even if it’s not “trendy.” Or maybe it’s sharing your love of a nerdy hobby or movie or book with a friend. The more you practice, the more natural it will feel.

So, here’s your takeaway for today: It’s okay to be weird. It’s okay to be different. It’s okay to let go of society’s expectations and live life on your own terms. The process might feel uncomfortable at first, but it can also be empowering. It can be freeing. And it’s absolutely worth it.

Take some time this week to reflect on what makes you, you. What are the quirks, traits, or passions that make you unique? How can you embrace those things more fully in your day-to-day life? And if you’re feeling brave, try experimenting with something new, just to see what happens.

If you want to hang out with other weirdos working on finding and being weird, nerdy selves, come join us for weekly coworking on Mondays! I’d love to hang out with you!

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Read all of my blog posts about organizing.