# Embracing Uniqueness: Lessons from Coma and Digital Creation
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Chapter 1: The Power of Being Unique
I proudly identify as a bit eccentric. Not in a negative way, but as a badge of honor. Do you feel the same? I consider myself a quirky individual, and I embrace that identity wholeheartedly. Are you doing the same?
We often confine ourselves into narrow categories, crafting our online personas to fit in and appear 'normal' alongside others. When the Internet emerged (yes, I capitalize 'Internet' because as a Dot Com Pioneer from Gen X, it holds significance), one of its most thrilling aspects was the ability to establish our own guidelines.
If you ever encounter a Dot Com Pioneer (we're a rare breed today, with many leaving after the Dot Com Crash), you'll notice that the early web was infused with a distinct spirit that seems lacking now.
The initial days of the web were characterized by a collective sense of possibility:
- We could create a connected world.
- By inviting the entire globe to participate, we could uncover our shared humanity.
- There was hope for peace.
- We could express our authentic selves without the pressure to conform.
Millennials often receive credit for the digital landscape, but it was Gen X that laid the groundwork for the social web, albeit on dial-up connections. While the older Boomers established the framework (shout out to Tim Berners-Lee), Gen X defined the culture.
While Millennials were the first to adopt these changes, Gen Z is mainstreaming the social web, evolving into a new type of human. Their cognitive abilities are distinctly different—a true evolutionary leap. This new group could be dubbed thinks… Artificialis Hominum. Not sure about the Latin, but it captures the essence of what’s happening. I created a free mini-course on this topic, which you can access after reading this post. [Note: The course is quite dated now, so if you’re easily triggered or prone to cancel culture, it may not be suitable for you. However, it does feature some remarkable predictions that are coming to fruition.]
Ultimately, we had high hopes for future generations. We expected the youth to lead the web, partly because we were in our 20s at the time, but also because we were frustrated with the status quo.
We were rebels aiming to disrupt the old norms. We introduced concepts like Dress Down Fridays, leet speak, emoticons, memes, and casual business communication, replacing rigid and formal rhetoric.
We promoted the idea of being genuine in business, challenging the impersonal approach that had dominated before. This shift wasn’t easy; you might take it for granted today. The early adopters (like Zuck and others) leveraged faster internet connections to spread this mindset, but they weren’t there at the inception. They didn’t cultivate the culture; they merely planted fast-growing seeds in a carefully prepared environment, leading to the rise of a conformist system that ultimately stifled creativity.
Now, social media platforms, particularly Facebook and Instagram, often encourage users to conform to narrow standards of appearance and behavior. Users create boxy, filtered images, all looking strikingly similar. This was never the vision we had for the social web.
The Importance of Independent Thought
I haven’t touched on my coma experience yet—bear with me. It’s essential to provide context so you can reflect on your own thought processes rather than focusing solely on mine.
Are you genuinely thinking independently when you post online, or are you simply following the directives of tech moguls? Are you just recycling the same content in neat little boxes, blending in with the crowd?
It’s impossible for me to conform to the same thought patterns as everyone else. My brain functions differently.
At 11, I experienced a life-changing car accident. My brother was driving, and he later died in another crash. During our accident, I was ejected from the vehicle, and my head collided with a wall—my body following suit. I stopped breathing and was on the brink of death.
A St John’s Ambulance volunteer witnessed the incident and performed CPR, while a nurse called for an ambulance. I fell into a coma with little hope of recovery; no one had ever survived such severe head trauma.
A few days later, I awoke. Unable to communicate or learn, I wasn’t even assigned a speech therapist due to the grim prognosis. My IQ lagged seven years behind my peers, and my parents were told I would likely be a 'vegetable.'
Yet, here I am—an exceptionally intelligent 'vegetable.' I taught myself to communicate, read, and write. I earned a degree in English, became a pioneer in Internet Marketing, authored bestselling books, and contributed to magazines. I now stand in the top 2% for IQ. BOOYAH!
This journey instilled in me several lessons:
- Adults often lack insight.
- Rediscovering the mindset of a child and connecting with the Infinite Mind is crucial for meaningful creation.
- A fixed mindset can hinder miraculous occurrences.
- Neuroplasticity is real (I grasped this concept long before mainstream medicine caught on).
- When the right hemisphere of the brain compensates for the left, extraordinary abilities emerge.
- I can teach individuals to develop these abilities without needing a traumatic brain injury first, leading to incredible outcomes.
Your Role in the Digital Landscape
As you navigate the echo chambers of social media, consider what unique contributions you can make. What fresh insights or authentic perspectives are you sharing?
To be truly authentic requires courage. It takes bravery to acknowledge that while one aspect of your life is thriving, another may be chaotic. I openly embrace this reality. We owe it to our audiences to deliver our best, even when our best may include imperfections.
Sometimes, our most valuable insights stem from our struggles—things society often discourages us from discussing. For instance, society may not want me to acknowledge that narcissists can also be good people, as it contradicts the prevailing narrative. Yet, if all narcissists are indeed monsters, why are all superheroes often narcissistic?
I faced backlash for this viewpoint, with some suggesting I only felt this way because I hadn’t encountered a 'real' narcissist. Ironically, I was dating one when my book launched.
Criticism arose again when people questioned how I could make such a claim, given the pain narcissists inflict. My response is simple: it’s true. It’s complicated and can be painful, as I grapple with the urge to vilify all narcissists. However, I cannot. Like everyone else, those with these traits are multifaceted, unique, and human.
I refuse to conform to societal pressures dictating who I should befriend or silence my struggles. I won’t overlook the potential and kindness inherent in you, no matter your flaws or past wounds.
I see you. It is my passion and purpose to help you shine. You don’t need to transform into a different person to radiate. Embrace your unique self, polish your strengths, and share your journey. Present both your triumphs and trials, as they are merely different phases of the same essence. Your true worth lies within the complexities of your experience.
Your trials can become your testament. Your struggles can convey your message. Step away from a neatly packaged existence and embrace your authentic, messy truth.
Rebecca
P.S. If you're wrestling with any of these concepts, let’s connect—free of charge, no strings attached. Click the orange button at the bottom of my site to schedule a chat. Here’s how I assist individuals.
P.P.S. Prefer learning through courses? Explore my shop for a wealth of resources on mindset, business, and creativity, including free offerings. Welcome to The Clockerfly Store of Metamorphosis.