We grow up believing that in order to be happy, we need to belong somewhere – a society, a country, a social circle, and finally, a family.
The desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves seems to be our innate need, which probably has evolutionary roots (remember the well-known notion that human is a social animal?). As Wikipedia states, “belongingness is the human emotional need to be an accepted member of a group.”
But what happens in the case of people who don’t only lack this need but also feel that they don’t really fit in this world? Some individuals don’t simply consider themselves different from the rest – they actually have different tastes, ways of thinking, and priorities in life. They don’t like popular things and activities and don’t go after the goals most people pursue.
They may seem a sort of weirdos to those around them, but the truth is that there is a bright side of being a “misfit.”
Today, we will discuss four categories of people who are very likely to have a sense of detachment from the world because of their emotional and mental makeup. Moreover, it’s not a bad thing at all and is, in fact, an indication of increased awareness and sensitivity.
Sadly, the society we live in is giving more and more importance to primitive instincts and material needs. So it makes sense why individuals capable of deep thought may feel like they don’t belong here.
If you are a deep thinker, then you probably know what truly matters in life. That’s why seeing people around you chasing ephemeral goals and being interested in meaningless stuff is so disappointing. It’s not only disappointing – sometimes, it makes you wonder what you are doing here, among these people, and feel like you come from another world.
Old souls often feel like they don’t belong here, especially when growing up. Being passionate about unpopular things may make others pick up on your differences and tease you for it. And this can be painful in your awkward childhood and teenage years, making you feel like a misfit who doesn’t have a place in this world.
In your adult years, this gap separating you from other people only becomes bigger. However, you find your path in life and don’t care the same about what they think about you.
Empaths are so sensitive to the emotions and energy of other people that they may find it uncomfortable to be around them. If you are an empath, you know that every time you watch a news broadcast or learn something sad about someone you know, you get truly upset.
All these side effects of being an empath can also provoke a sense of detachment. And it’s no surprise – there is so much greed, cruelty, and violence in today’s world that an empath may suffer, being a part of it.
A spiritual awakening is a great experience that elevates you to a higher level of consciousness and turns you into a spiritually evolved being. However, it is also paired with painful feelings and experiences because fundamental changes are never easy.
Not only do you start to wonder about the existence, reconsidering your life decisions and relationships, but you may also feel detached from those around you and the world in general. It’s all because you are becoming more aware and understand things you previously turned a blind eye to.
Instead of worrying about what others think and seeking their approval, try to find your passion and life purpose. And it’s fine if it doesn’t seem attractive or “cool” to most people. The point is that it should fill your life with meaning and happiness.
Did any of the above-described things ring true for you? We would love to hear your thoughts on this.
If you are feeling like a misfit, you may want to read my recent articles that provide some guidance for coping with this emotional state:
When the flood of comments came in response to this article, I realized that there were far more people who felt like they didn’t belong here, in this world and society, than I had imagined.
Inspired by this fact, I wrote the book The Power of Misfits: How to Find Your Place in a World You Don’t Fit In to help all those introverts, empaths, and deep thinkers who feel alien to modern society. If you are feeling this way and are looking for answers, you may want to check my book on Amazon.
View Comments
Hi everyone,
This was such a blessing to remember that I am not alone in this feeling of being "different." I have always thought of myself as a foreigner and stranger in this world, like the proverbial square peg trying to fit into a round hole. It has made me especially sad today, but this feeling has become fundamental for me since childhood. However, even as familiar as the feeling has become over the years, it never gets easier. In fact, it only gets harder the older I get. It really does hurt sometimes to be so sensitive. I truly believe deep down that this is a blessing rather than a curse to be ultra-different, even though most times it does not feel that way. Hang in there everyone, there is safety in numbers, even though our number is quite smaller than the masses.
Hi guys. Reading everyone's story makes me feel so much better. I am an empath and I work with the public which I'm sure is a bad idea. I've struggled with fitting in my whole life. I've always felt like an outsider and I have a strange feeling that I don't belong here. Kind of like I was sent to the wrong planet. My body is very sensitive to the foods I eat. So much that I have been considering becoming a raw vegan. I have visions of the future and they usually come to pass. I don't understand why I'm here and I don't like feeling alone. It feels like I'm just here temporarily waiting to die so I can go to my next destination.
I feel similar to you guys. Like I fell off the boat and ended up here, while somewhere there, are the rest of my people. I watch coworkers, random people all the time and it looks like programmed robots, and I feel out of place, out of time, out of world. Everywhere I walk or drive, I swear I see the same people, the same faces, like I've done and seen this all before. I go someplace I've never been, or never eaten at, and I immediately feel like I've already done this. Movies I watch, I can see what's coming. The only real satisfaction I get is when I am asleep, and I can go anywhere and do anything. While dreaming I feel like that's the world I'm supposed to he in and when awake I am suffering. It's painful mentally to pretend to care about pursuing the goals that are expected of me. Being awake is like being a slave to the system on a world I don't belong in.
I read every single comment. It's exactly the same for me. I always had a social life but I was truly detached. It was like I was pretending all my life. Pretending to live, pretending to have friends, pretending to be in a relationship. Pretending to work. I am married with three kids I adore, but even now that I am 36, I can't shake this feeling off. It's like I dont belong here, like I'm from somewhere far away but I can't remember where. I love music, travelling and art. Videogames, books and movies that show other worlds and I am imagining that I belong there. I love the stars, planets and Universe. I love seeing people healthy and happy, I adore children, they are the epitome of greatness and innocence and the fact that we live in a world where horrible things happen to them horrifies me and breaks my heart. I am highly perceptive to other people's intentions and vibes. Like, really perceptive. I hate this whole negativity this world throws at me and others. I have really intense dreams that I travel to other worlds but I can never put my finger to. Never completely remember. I love helping others, making them smile, but I never want people become very close to me. Only a few special. I have never told anyone how I feel. Only my sister knows. My husband is a good man but thinks me as a weirdo. Thinks that I dislike people and I just have issues with the world and everyone around me because I can't stand rudeness and negativity. He doesn't know how I feel. He won't understand. Homeopathy helped me deal with my depression in the past and still helps me discover my self and try to get along in this world I sometimes think I have been dumped to survive. What else can I do? Who will believe me when I say that every single time, and I mean EVERY SINGLE TIME I think of a favorite movie in tv, I d like to watch, I see it right in front of me? That I think things and they happen? That I understand right away what kind of people I have right in front of me, and that I have dreamed of thing that happened years afterwards?
i felt the same.. i think, not just a special person feel like this.. every person on this earth felt like this.. have you ever had an image of a beautiful scenery inside your head?.. whenever you felt like this world is not where you belong, that image flashing inside your head?.. i think, it's because it's from your previous life's memory and it's not your imagination..