The Benefits of Being an Outsider
independence, observation, creativity
I always felt an outsider. J. K. Rowling
I feel like an outsider, and I always will feel like one. I’ve always felt that I wasn’t a member of any particular group. Anne Rice
As a kid I just felt like an outsider. Marilyn Manson
I’ve felt like an outsider for most of my life. While there are negative aspects to always being an outsider, there are also positive benefits to being on the outside looking in instead of being a part of a group.
While there were times when I thought that belonging was what I wanted, I realize now that being on the outside has helped shape who I am. I am thankful for having been an observer rather than an accepted participant in the groups where I often stood on the edge and just watched.
Independence
One positive benefit of being an outsider is the independence gained by not being part of a group. Except for the leader who controls others, being part of a group requires conformity. Group pressure or peer pressure can lead one to do things they would not choose to do on their own. Part of the price for belonging is…
