1. Just because you don’t fit in to the system doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.

“We run our schools like factories. We line kids up in straight rows, put them in batches, and work very hard to make sure there are no defective parts. Nobody standing out, falling behind, running ahead, making a ruckus.” – Seth Godin

Systems are created for the majority. Fortunately, there’s always going to be those outsiders who think differently, those who innovate to build a better world and fight injustices. Systems are not there to shaft you; they’re a safety net that fosters compliance. Systems rely on their ability to predict behaviour. They also set the ceilings on our accomplishments. Do you really want to fit in to a system?

2. Go with what feels right, not what people expect of you.

“You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” – Jim Carrey (Click to Tweet this quote)

Most of the time we go with the thing that feels safe, not right. This is a natural protective function of the ego hard wired in to the brain to keep you in your comfort zone. Ultimately, following other peoples expectations of you will often lead you down a path of self-sabotage and regret until you either hit breaking point or you die. Skip the pain and time wasting and listen to what you really want. Nothing great happens in the comfort zone.

3. Stop watching the news and reading the papers.

“Too much TV, too many newspapers got a nigga thinking evil. Got me thinking I’m looking at my enemy when I’m looking at my own people.” – Skepta, Castles

We live so much of our lives saturated by the media and advertising, yet so few of us understand its inner workings, thus creating an underclass that can be easily manipulated and suppressed. Only by de-emphasising the false narratives of success that have been marketed to us can we learn to live through and for ourselves.

4. Get out of your “f*ck the world” mode.

“They want you to have a fuck the world attitude, they want you to work for minimum wage.” – Skepta, Underdog Psychosis

When you adopt a f*ck the world attitude you surrender to external pressures. You’ve surrendered control and allowed your mindset to become toxic. When you take responsibility for your own actions and perceptions you have the power to move the world around you. You also attract the right people in to your life.

“To attract attractive people, you must be attractive. To attract powerful people, you must be powerful. To attract committed people, you must be committed. Instead of going to work on them, you go to work on yourself. If you become, you can attract.” – Jim Rohn

5. Become the voice of the people, channel the injustice.

“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” ― Malala Yousafzai

Pain is a great motivator, it’s the reason I’m spending a sunny Saturday afternoon writing this post when I can be sitting out in the garden with my family. It hurts me when a young person loses hope because I know what it feels like. Make your pain productive; channel that energy in to trying to change the very thing that boils your blood through whatever medium calls out to you.

6. Let go of authority.

Authorities create system and we’ve already stated that great things don’t happen in confinement and conformity. In order for us to work in and around authority, we must develop a greater awareness of ourselves and the world around us through self-education. It’s up to you to figure out the rules and how to bend them. The only authority you really need in life is the one that comes from yourself.

7. You can be more. Don’t be the person they expect you to be.

Expectations are external. They’re people’s way of injecting their own fears and insecurities on to you. Governments spends thousands of pounds trying to statistically figure out your worth to society through a system of expectations. ‘Expect’ is a word laced in doubt . Focus on what you know you CAN be and f*ck the rest.

8. Stop trying to prove yourself to avoid others preconceptions. Stay true to who you are.

“Express oneself honestly.” – Bruce Lee

9. Rub that attitude off your skin. You can be something.

“First place never settle for less, What’s the point in trying if you ain’t trying your best.” – Skepta, Hold on (Click to Tweet this quote)

Most of us are not special or unique because we’ve spent years trying to fit in and conform to the point that we’ve lost sight of who we really are. As the years pass by we continue to add pages and pages of self-limiting stories in to our book of “Why I Will Never Be (insert dream)” and this traps us in our own assumptions. Stop. Get out of your own way and fight for a full life. You can be something, but most importantly be something to yourself.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this in the comment section below. What do you think about Underdog Psychosis? Does it exist? Did you suffer from it and get over it? Share your stories below so others can learn from you.

Podcast: Why Being An Underdog Entrepreneur Is A Plus