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The artist and blogger Jessica Hague believes that anyone can be interesting, and mediocrity is the lot of the lazy. She proves this in her book How to Be Interesting: 10 Easy Steps, filled with diagrams and tried-and-true advice for those looking to develop creativity, take risks, and trust themselves.
1. Explore
Explore new ideas, places, and opinions. Listening only to yourself is the lot of unbearably boring people.
Disconnect
Without a map, you can find places that are not marked there. By disconnecting your phone, you can talk to those who will meet along the way. Skip the next batch of social media updates and look inside yourself. Gadgets bind you to a familiar world. Disable them and plunge into the unknown.
Take a vacation every day
Even if not for long. Walk through the city at dawn. Throw a letter into an unfamiliar mailbox. Read a magazine someone left at the bus stop. Take a walk in the rain. Order hot chocolate at an unfamiliar café. Use any free minute.
Keep asking "why?"
Parents hate it when children torment them with questions. Why? That's why. Why? That's why. Why? That's why. And again and again. But try it yourself. And wonder how the simple "why?" the most interesting "because ..." will follow.
2. Share your findings
Be generous. Not everyone can go with you. Let them experience the same adventures as you.
Show initiative
Don't put it off until tomorrow. Speak and do right away, now. Go where you need to be. Don't wait for an invitation - invite yourself. Don't sit by the phone - call. Spread the word out. Click on the buttons. Buy tickets and have fun with the show.
Tell the obvious (to you)
What you know is often a mystery for others, sealed with seven seals. Something that is as old as the world to you may seem like a fresh idea to someone. For you the task is simple, for others it is an insurmountable obstacle. Your mind is full of treasures that no one else can see. Get them out into the light. When you share ideas, they don't go to waste. On the contrary, they only multiply.
Be a connecting link, not an end point
Don't just talk. Don't just listen. Introduce people. Help strangers. Share what you know. This is how an idea snowballs and eventually turns into an event. Be the core around which an entire community is built.
3. Do something. Anything
Dance. Write. Build. Communicate. Play. Help. Be creative. It doesn't matter what exactly you do, as long as you do something. Yes, just in case: this does not apply to "sit and whine."
Make a choice. Any
Do not decide how exactly to dispose of the current day? With your life? Career? To be honest, it doesn't matter. Even carefully worked out plans collapse. And to rush in indecision from one option to another is a sure way to do nothing in a lifetime. Flip a coin. Twirl the bottle. Trust your intuition. And go ahead!
Throw away the trash
Not every job is worth doing. Not every unpleasant job has to be done. Avoid what torments you. If something cannot be avoided (washing or filing a tax return), do it with pleasure - and once done, put it out of your head. Make room for what's really important. And really interesting.
Stake your territory
Whatever you do, love what you do. Take it. Improve yourself in it. Own it. This is the only way to combine a sense of freedom with a sense of security.
4. Accept your weirdness
There are no "normal" people in the world. Each has its own characteristics and views inherent only to him. Don't hide them from others - that's what makes you an interesting person.
Be yourself in public
When leaving the house, be yourself. Be yourself at work. Wear your personality proudly. Don't censor your skills. Don't hide your unique traits. To stand out, you need to have personality. Only the one who does not hide her from others remains himself.
Stop apologizing
There is nothing wrong with being unique. There is nothing wrong with being different from others. You don't need to apologize for being an interesting person.
Capitalize on your features
What makes you interesting adds value to you. Only you can express what you know, do what you do, and know what you know. And you don't need a huge niche - a piece of land is enough to plant your flag.
5. Live meaningfully
If you don't give a damn about everything, everyone will give a damn about you.
Spend your money on the right things
Whom do you pay? Who pays you? What people and companies are you associated with? Do you agree with their policies, methods and behavior? Do they suit you? If not, you can always change something by starting to spend money on something else.
Strive for the maximum
Ask yourself: is this the best possible? If not, what is it? And get busy achieving the best.
Put things in order
Assign the highest priority to the most important. Everything else is organized by itself.
6. Keep it simple
The ego stands in the way of ideas. If your arrogance is more visible than experience, people will avoid you.
Imagine how much you don't know
Everything you will ever know will be only a microscopic grain of sand compared to the vast, immense universe of information. Let this sobering fact calm you down.
Not everyone needs what you have
Your greatest achievement, as impressive as it may seem to you, is a terrible nightmare for someone. Your most valuable possession for someone else is just tasteless rubbish. Brag more carefully!
Think about how lucky you are
Do you deserve what you have? Perhaps in part. And what you don't have? Probably not. Recognize the role that coincidences, chances, systemic processes (and luck, of course) play in our world.
7. Try
Try it. Try new ideas. Do something different. You don't grow up until you leave your comfort zone.
Acknowledge your desires
To deny a dream is to nip it in the bud. You shouldn't feel guilty about striving for something. There is nothing wrong with wanting something. Save your guilt in case you don't even give yourself a chance to try.
Step over your boundaries
If you have not been somewhere, this does not mean that you will not like it there. If something is not your responsibility, it does not mean that you cannot do it. It's up to you to decide which league to play in.
Take on difficult things
Know that obstacles will scare off most of your competitors. In addition, as a rule, solving the most difficult problems brings the greatest satisfaction in the end.
8. Get off the wrong track
You shouldn't do what everyone is already doing - this train left without you. Come up with something of your own, then admirers will be drawn to you.
Squeeze into a niche
The narrower the niche, the less room for imitators. If you want to be interesting, do something special, not mundane.
Don't chase the ubiquitous
If something is ubiquitous, it is not necessarily worthy of praise or participation.
Become visible
To be successful, you don't need to become world famous or obscenely rich. You just have to do what you do best.
9. Gather your courage
It takes courage to have an opinion and walk the unbeaten path. If you do not have enough courage, all that remains is to stomp around the cooler and discuss those who have it in abundance.
Raise a riot
If you suddenly realize that you are working on something meaningless or fruitless, stop immediately. It is not worth fighting for what you do not see value in. You will be surprised how many people will support your protest.
Avoid authorities
Authorities tend to shackle, restrain, and restrict freedom. Get rid of them whenever possible.
Don't be afraid of friction
You don't want to intrude. You don't like making waves. You dare not ask for what you need. But you have to overcome yourself.
10. Ignore the swearing
It is safe to be boring. As you get interesting, you will often hear angry "behave yourself". Those who scold you also “could”, “would like”, “would do”. But they didn't. And so they are pissed off by your willingness to adventure.
Don't belittle yourself
Is a nasty voice in your head criticizing and belittling you? Silence him with actions that prove him wrong. Warning: This can take years.
Learn from everyone
You can learn how not to live from the scum you encounter. You can learn how to live from people you respect and love. Think of this as a scientific study of human behavior.
Don't confuse ridicule and criticism
Only what can be used for self-improvement is constructive.
1. Explore
Explore new ideas, places, and opinions. Listening only to yourself is the lot of unbearably boring people.
Disconnect
Without a map, you can find places that are not marked there. By disconnecting your phone, you can talk to those who will meet along the way. Skip the next batch of social media updates and look inside yourself. Gadgets bind you to a familiar world. Disable them and plunge into the unknown.
Take a vacation every day
Even if not for long. Walk through the city at dawn. Throw a letter into an unfamiliar mailbox. Read a magazine someone left at the bus stop. Take a walk in the rain. Order hot chocolate at an unfamiliar café. Use any free minute.
Keep asking "why?"
Parents hate it when children torment them with questions. Why? That's why. Why? That's why. Why? That's why. And again and again. But try it yourself. And wonder how the simple "why?" the most interesting "because ..." will follow.
2. Share your findings
Be generous. Not everyone can go with you. Let them experience the same adventures as you.
Show initiative
Don't put it off until tomorrow. Speak and do right away, now. Go where you need to be. Don't wait for an invitation - invite yourself. Don't sit by the phone - call. Spread the word out. Click on the buttons. Buy tickets and have fun with the show.
Tell the obvious (to you)
What you know is often a mystery for others, sealed with seven seals. Something that is as old as the world to you may seem like a fresh idea to someone. For you the task is simple, for others it is an insurmountable obstacle. Your mind is full of treasures that no one else can see. Get them out into the light. When you share ideas, they don't go to waste. On the contrary, they only multiply.
Be a connecting link, not an end point
Don't just talk. Don't just listen. Introduce people. Help strangers. Share what you know. This is how an idea snowballs and eventually turns into an event. Be the core around which an entire community is built.
3. Do something. Anything
Dance. Write. Build. Communicate. Play. Help. Be creative. It doesn't matter what exactly you do, as long as you do something. Yes, just in case: this does not apply to "sit and whine."
Make a choice. Any
Do not decide how exactly to dispose of the current day? With your life? Career? To be honest, it doesn't matter. Even carefully worked out plans collapse. And to rush in indecision from one option to another is a sure way to do nothing in a lifetime. Flip a coin. Twirl the bottle. Trust your intuition. And go ahead!
Throw away the trash
Not every job is worth doing. Not every unpleasant job has to be done. Avoid what torments you. If something cannot be avoided (washing or filing a tax return), do it with pleasure - and once done, put it out of your head. Make room for what's really important. And really interesting.
Stake your territory
Whatever you do, love what you do. Take it. Improve yourself in it. Own it. This is the only way to combine a sense of freedom with a sense of security.
4. Accept your weirdness
There are no "normal" people in the world. Each has its own characteristics and views inherent only to him. Don't hide them from others - that's what makes you an interesting person.
Be yourself in public
When leaving the house, be yourself. Be yourself at work. Wear your personality proudly. Don't censor your skills. Don't hide your unique traits. To stand out, you need to have personality. Only the one who does not hide her from others remains himself.
Stop apologizing
There is nothing wrong with being unique. There is nothing wrong with being different from others. You don't need to apologize for being an interesting person.
Capitalize on your features
What makes you interesting adds value to you. Only you can express what you know, do what you do, and know what you know. And you don't need a huge niche - a piece of land is enough to plant your flag.
5. Live meaningfully
If you don't give a damn about everything, everyone will give a damn about you.
Spend your money on the right things
Whom do you pay? Who pays you? What people and companies are you associated with? Do you agree with their policies, methods and behavior? Do they suit you? If not, you can always change something by starting to spend money on something else.
Strive for the maximum
Ask yourself: is this the best possible? If not, what is it? And get busy achieving the best.
Put things in order
Assign the highest priority to the most important. Everything else is organized by itself.
6. Keep it simple
The ego stands in the way of ideas. If your arrogance is more visible than experience, people will avoid you.
Imagine how much you don't know
Everything you will ever know will be only a microscopic grain of sand compared to the vast, immense universe of information. Let this sobering fact calm you down.
Not everyone needs what you have
Your greatest achievement, as impressive as it may seem to you, is a terrible nightmare for someone. Your most valuable possession for someone else is just tasteless rubbish. Brag more carefully!
Think about how lucky you are
Do you deserve what you have? Perhaps in part. And what you don't have? Probably not. Recognize the role that coincidences, chances, systemic processes (and luck, of course) play in our world.
7. Try
Try it. Try new ideas. Do something different. You don't grow up until you leave your comfort zone.
Acknowledge your desires
To deny a dream is to nip it in the bud. You shouldn't feel guilty about striving for something. There is nothing wrong with wanting something. Save your guilt in case you don't even give yourself a chance to try.
Step over your boundaries
If you have not been somewhere, this does not mean that you will not like it there. If something is not your responsibility, it does not mean that you cannot do it. It's up to you to decide which league to play in.
Take on difficult things
Know that obstacles will scare off most of your competitors. In addition, as a rule, solving the most difficult problems brings the greatest satisfaction in the end.
8. Get off the wrong track
You shouldn't do what everyone is already doing - this train left without you. Come up with something of your own, then admirers will be drawn to you.
Squeeze into a niche
The narrower the niche, the less room for imitators. If you want to be interesting, do something special, not mundane.
Don't chase the ubiquitous
If something is ubiquitous, it is not necessarily worthy of praise or participation.
Become visible
To be successful, you don't need to become world famous or obscenely rich. You just have to do what you do best.
9. Gather your courage
It takes courage to have an opinion and walk the unbeaten path. If you do not have enough courage, all that remains is to stomp around the cooler and discuss those who have it in abundance.
Raise a riot
If you suddenly realize that you are working on something meaningless or fruitless, stop immediately. It is not worth fighting for what you do not see value in. You will be surprised how many people will support your protest.
Avoid authorities
Authorities tend to shackle, restrain, and restrict freedom. Get rid of them whenever possible.
Don't be afraid of friction
You don't want to intrude. You don't like making waves. You dare not ask for what you need. But you have to overcome yourself.
10. Ignore the swearing
It is safe to be boring. As you get interesting, you will often hear angry "behave yourself". Those who scold you also “could”, “would like”, “would do”. But they didn't. And so they are pissed off by your willingness to adventure.
Don't belittle yourself
Is a nasty voice in your head criticizing and belittling you? Silence him with actions that prove him wrong. Warning: This can take years.
Learn from everyone
You can learn how not to live from the scum you encounter. You can learn how to live from people you respect and love. Think of this as a scientific study of human behavior.
Don't confuse ridicule and criticism
Only what can be used for self-improvement is constructive.
