The habits of nonconformists are extraordinary. They are constantly looking and often living outside the box. They don’t follow the crowd. They question popular trends. And they often go in the opposite direction.
They are rebels but in a good way. Yes, they frequently confront authority figures. But the authority figures they challenge are usually rigid conformists who use their power to force their beliefs on those in their charge.
Nonconformists are inventors, artists, and revolutionaries. They create things that others cannot imagine or don’t have the courage to undertake. They live in a different reality than people who have fallen into a conventional mindset.
They are the ones who start companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Virgin. They are the ones who travel the world, live in usual homes and places, and build amazing lives.
Nonconformists are romantics who love and who are loved in intense ways. They are excited by meaningful conversations and they are bored by small talk. They prefer deep friendships to those that are shallow, inconsistent, and self-serving.
Nonconformists are neither liberals nor conservatives. Rather they are independent!
Here is a comparison of the habits of nonconformists versus conformists. They…
| Nonconformists | Conformists |
| Watch little or no news “shows” on television or the Internet. | Watch local, national, and world news shows on television and the Internet. |
| Don’t watch “popular” television “shows” preferring intelligent programs instead if at all. | Easily get addicted to popular mindless television shows. |
| Eat a vegan plant-based diet. | Eat a mainstream animal-based and processed food diet as seen in advertisements. |
| Consume little or no alcohol. | Join in this mind-numbing, body poisoning social ritual. |
| Avoid all prescription drugs. | Allow themselves to believe and follow the advice in pharmaceutical company commercials. |
| Live in a cleverly designed small home. | Follow popular trends and compete with others by getting the largest house possible. |
| Look for unique ways to create freedom. | Search for ways to buy more stuff. |
| Have a small select wardrobe. | Constantly add to an already large and mostly unused wardrobe. |
| Wear clothes and their hair in ways that express their individuality. | Dress in clothes and have their hair done to match what is “in” at any given time. |
| Own a small fuel-efficient vehicle or none at all. | Buy the newest, most popular model without regard to its size or cost. |
| Don’t buy into the gift giving hype. | Fully embrace the merchant created gift giving traditions and often go in debt to fulfill them. |
| Don’t follow media created popular trends. | Easily fall for marketing campaigns and promotions. |
| Think independently on most issues and are open to new ideas. | Follow the stance of their social group, political party, or religion and have a closed mind to all else. |
| Create a lifestyle that matches “their” beliefs and goals. | Build a life that aligns with current popular ideals. |
The habits of nonconformists often irritate conformists and vice versa. They are rarely close friends but they are able to tolerate each other to a point. The best way for nonconformists and conformists to get along is by not discussing their views with the other. Nonconformists may need to set boundaries with conformists, but it’s best that they simply be an example as much as possible.
Brad Paul
Nonconformist 😀