Blog #3: The Psychology of Uniqueness: What Makes You Truly Irreplaceable

  I remember earlier in my life, typically around my teens and young adult years, there would be a consistent one to two days a year where I would sit back and reflect and really “FREAK MYSELF OUT” with some existential thinking. The content of that thinking was basically how unique and rare it was that I was even alive in the first place. I know that kind of sounds dark and morbid, but it was not as bad as you may have guessed. It can actually be pretty amazing and inspiring when you start to wrap your head around how amazing, unique, and special that you all are.

First off, let us acknowledge that despite how many people have lived on this planet, there has never been two completely identical people in every possible way. Taking a step back, even when we consider the estimates that the world’s population in 2025 is around 8.2 billion people, the strongest possibility is that no two people are exactly the same that we can tell. Taking a bigger step back, even when we consider the estimates of the entire Homo sapiens species on this planet is around 117 billion people, the strongest possibility is that no two people are exactly the same that we can tell. I know that is WILD, but it is important to realize that you are very special and unique, just by the numbers of the population.

From a neurological perspective, it is estimated that no two brains on Earth are wired the exact same, not even in identical twins that grow up together. In other words, your brain is a one-of-a-kind creation. This is because the neural pathways in our brains were formed and sculpted by all the conversations we had, every failure we survived, every joy we felt, every belief we adopted, every relationship that influenced us, and every choice that we made. All of these experiences form a special and unique neural fingerprint that no one else has or ever will have. To sum up, your mind is a one-time event.

From a personality perspective, the field of personality psychology shows that traits like openness, conscientiousness, introversion/extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, sensitivity, humour, and/or boldness blend into a unique signature configuration for yourself in the world. In other way, two people may share a trait, but not in the same intensity, combination, or expression. A helpful way to think about this is to compare it to cooking a recipe, where someone else may have similar ingredients, but no one has your exact same ratios and no one cooks with the your exact flavour. This is why two people can experience the same situation and walk away with two completely different interpretations.

From a narrative perspective, your story holds unique moments and experiences that have shaped and changed you, including:

• A teacher who believed in you at the exact right time

• A heartbreak that hurt and cracked you open

• A childhood memory you barely talk about but never forget

• A moment a stranger’s kindness restored your faith

• A challenge that forced you into strength you didn’t know you had

In sum, these moments combine and accumulate into a worldview that no one else shares, so your story is not repeated in any other person’s narrative.

From a meaning and humanistic perspective, influential expert professionals including Viktor Frankl and Carl Rogers promoted that meaning comes from understanding and expressing your true and authentic self. When you try to become a copy or imitate someone else, life can often feel hollow, your motivation often collapses, anxiety typically rises, and your often lose your inner compass. However, when you embrace you own uniqueness, even imperfectly, you realign with your internal sense of purpose and meaning in life. Examples of this is when people often feeling most alive when they are creating, expressing, leading, or living in ways that reflect their inner self rather than external expectations of them.

From an impact or influential perspective, we all have an impact on each other that can change us for better or worse. Every smile, conversation, insight, or act of kindness to others leave a trace in that person’s life. Your presence alters the emotional atmosphere in ways you’ll never fully see or measure. It is important to remember, that impact is not about scale, it is really about your unique and special signature you leave behind. Your signature is unparalleled.

In conclusion, it is important that we acknowledge how unique and special we are as human beings on this planet. Just like every snowflake is unique and different, the same goes for us too. The fact remains that the odds of all of us existing – biologically, genetically, and historically – is rare. I want to take a moment to tell all of you that you are so valuable, special, unique, and amazing! It is important that we sometimes take a moment to recognize this fact and celebrate ourselves. So celebrate how amazing and special as you are! Thank you for being you!