“Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.”
― John F. Kennedy

When I speak of individuality, I am not promoting a rebellious or isolationist attitude that causes one to separate themselves from others to the point of loss of a relationship. Rather I am speaking of the synergy that is produced when each person plays their specific role in an entity. Paul addresses this in his writings.

• The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NLT)

The whole of any entity we are involved in is harmed when we fail to be ourselves. If I spend my time trying to be like someone else, that is what cuts off the unity that is needed for the entities success. Too many times, especially in religion we wrongly mistake conformity for unity. Unity is not every person reacting, speaking, behaving, responding or operating the same. Unity is in truth when there are respect and cooperation between the various unique parts of the whole.

• 1 Corinthians 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

Using the same argument no one person can say to another you don’t belong because you are different. If someone is pressuring you to be like them to belong they plainly do not understand the complexities of the makeup of things.

• 1 Corinthians 12: 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

Nor is it accurate for you to judge yourself as not worthy or not a part of something because you are different.

• 1 Corinthians 12: 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?

Let me encourage you to see how much your uniqueness and individuality is needed for your world to work at its best. Whatever you are a part of from the broadest perspective of the human race to the narrowest relationship, you and it or they are most benefited by you being true to who you are.

“One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.”
― Shannon L. Alder