Idiosynchronicity

Allow me to coin a term – idiosynchronicity. It is made up of two elements, “Idiosyncratic” - Peculiar to the individual and “Synchronicity” - The relation that exists when things occur at the same time. You may think this is a contradiction in terms… or at least in this term, but to me it perfectly describes an ideal state of existence.

F#^* the Norm...

It is a state achieved by living deliberately (or as a friend recently put it, living with intent). Most people go through the motions every day, do what the rulebooks say, get the prescribed education, get married and divorced at least once, have 2.4 children, and so on. A typical life in typical suburbia where most complain about their jobs and taxes and a school system that does little real education. Living a real “shit happens” life because most decisions are the norm and made for them by what is expected, media bombardment with what is supposed to be good for you, custom and practice, the government and random circumstance.

...and the Rebels Too!

Alternatively, there are members of a new clan of rebels who shun the norm listen to “indie” music, and generally rebel against anything mainstream. But these have just become the new mainstream, they do not follow the beat of their own drummer, they just have alternative marching orders. Rebels without a cause, and often anarchy becomes the new rule, the alternative order.

Lead the Way

No, the state I’m referring to requires careful consideration of your idiosyncratic makeup. Deciding what you truly believe, what drives you and what makes you happy, what legacy you want to leave the world. It is an ongoing growth process where you untether from that which does not fall within the scope of your chosen path and boldly go where only you have gone and only you might ever go (maybe not, because there seems to be an inordinate number of people whose sole driving force is to follow another in the hope that some of the awesomeness rubs off). 

Let your Purpose Drive You

The question is, what is your sphere of influence? Where and how will you impact your world? What are you ideally suited to? If that just so happens to be the absolute norm, so be it, but if it means that you should be a ski-bum or ultimate survival adventurer or whatever path it might be, how awesome is that? Either way, finding your own niche in life will mean that you own your life footprint. It will lead to a life that is purpose driven, where every moment is filled with the excitement of knowing that you are pursuing your destiny.

Beware, They are Out There

But is there place in the world for such radical lifestyles? I must warn you that such people live amongst us. You will not recognize them on the street, but they are everywhere. Stop believing that life is filled with grey men and women in grey suits doing grey jobs in grey office blocks. There is a rainbow of glorious colour out there, and you are meant to shine in your own hue of it.

In Synergy

I am not telling you that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. But I can tell you this, if you let your opportunities pass you by, another will fill the void you left and their success does not constitute theft of your intended position. There is enough space in this design for each of us. In fact, the world works best when we all take up our destined position and we find that every position perfectly supports and complements each other. The happy circumstance where things happen together in such a way that the whole is more than the sum of its parts or synergy.

Making Footprints in the Sand

Nothing can be more motivating than living your idiosyncratic life footprint. One that fits your purposes and design like no other. Nothing guarantees complementary patterns more than diversity in what we pursue and how we go about it. Don’t just rebel against the norm, don’t just comply with it; ask yourself what you really want (not what the world says you should have), what you really want to do, where you want to do it and how. Then work out how you will do it, ignore the criticism and the warnings, make your life fit the mould you design for it. Own your life footprint. Let’s weave a beautiful tapestry of idiosynchronistic life!

Oh, and let me know what you’re up to, and how it goes…