Eccentric Realities -- How to Embrace Eccentric Minds (By Mr. Nathan Lasher, Co-Authored by Mr. T. Rubinshtein)
"Is madness but a curse, or a gift of unusual awareness?" -- Mr. John Duran
Part I: Unconventionality 101 (Mr. Tomasio Rubinshtein)
Eccentricity as a noun describes someone with unusual or odd behaviors, habits, or beliefs that set them apart from the norm. They might be seen as quirky, unconventional, and too bizarre for some people to hang around with. After all, people connect by being able to relate to each other.
Eccentricity is often judged in relation to social norms. What's seen as eccentric in a small town might be perfectly normal in a big city filled with diverse populations. So yes, it can be somewhat relative, but there's usually a clear distinction from what's considered typical behavior.
Eccentricity often manifests in specific areas of a person's life. An eccentric birdwatcher might have a very organized sock drawer, while a nihilistic philosopher would raise poodles, call all of them "Atma" and regard them as the true givers of empathy and compassion. It's not an all-encompassing characteristic, but rather a collection of quirks that make someone stand out.
There's no one-size-fits-all recipe for eccentricity, and of course, no 2 eccentrics are necessarily alike just because of their own deviation from society. However, what they have in common is their willingness to embrace their individuality and interests, despite of criticism and judgement involved
Here are some tips for eccentric folk:
Pursue your passions: Dive deep into what excites you, regardless of how mainstream it is. Try to be wise about it, however.
Express yourself: Don't be afraid to wear what you want, decorate your space how you like, and live by your own values. Use these values not only to be yourself but to navigate society. Use them both for your own good and others' good as a way to combat people's biases against you.
Embrace curiosity: Keep learning and exploring new interests. There's a whole world of fascinating things outside the box! Use your unconventional thinking to survive in society. When you realize the conventionality fails you, you should consider developing alternative routes merely to survive in a mundane, orthodox world.
Eccentrics can be a refreshing change from the ordinary. Here's how to navigate interactions:
Be open-minded: Try to understand their perspective and appreciate their unique qualities. Universally, interactions require mutual understanding no matter who you are. Apply self-doubt to be able to distinguish between your perceived reality, and concrete reality. Remember that you don't only see with your eyes, but also with your heart and mind. Seeing reality for what it is might be far harder than what you might think.
Respect their boundaries: Not everyone enjoys constant attention. Assess how much you want to engage with their eccentricities. Consider not only them but yourself as well. Strive for equity in your judgement. A biased judgement is very much inaccurate. Biased by our emotions most specifically.
Perhaps the person before you can be trusted, despite their eccentricity? It is far more of an individual case especially when it comes to irregular folk who live beyond traditional and contemporary labels. Judge wisely, not emotionally. Also, realize you might not know them like you think you do.
Communicate clearly: If something is bothering you, address it directly and respectfully. Obviously eccentric are humans too, and sometimes they are eccentric specifically because they understand more than the average person, not necessarily the other way around.
You can even find people in lower social status, understanding more than people whom are regarded as figures of authority. Remember that perceived social status, related to luxury as well, is also something that ruins your accurate examination of those you interact with. You can find some homeless people being ingenious folk, understanding reality with greater clarity in their own way.
Consider how your own misconceptions, not only that of other people, prevent you from seeing reality more clearly. Clarity is required in understanding in order to communicate clearly. It's not only a matter of conveying the message effectively, but also assessing your own knowledge or lack of it.
Extra notes:
Find your tribe: Surround yourself with people who appreciate your unique qualities. People who deem them a great addition to their lives, not people who would desire to shame you for being you.
Develop social skills: While you don't have to conform, understanding social cues can help navigate situations and reduce rejection (and trauma). Again, just learn to use your unique way of understanding to your advantage. I understand society by examining philosophy, so I literally compel myself to philosophize all the time as a way to understand society. The fact it works for me doesn't mean it will work for you, and that's fine. To navigate society successfully, it is beneficial that you discover yourself!
Be kind and compassionate: Eccentricity shouldn't come at the expense of being respectful. Respect is how connections are preserved and even cherished.
Part II: Understanding Eccentricity (Mr. Tomasio Rubinshtein)
As previously explained, the term "eccentric" is subjective and depends on what's considered "normal." Unconventional or non-standard might be more fitting descriptions, as they help us understand how relative these terms are. The "center" of society can be relative and changing as well, for example, by people with ulterior motives.
While eccentricity can sometimes stem from mental health issues, it can also be a "natural" outcome of neurodivergent thinking, living in a world that rejects them. It's a verdict of being that turns one into a social risk, as you are prevented by society to grow beyond your current status due to labeling, and unwillingness to understand beyond the (sometimes) irrational feelings of intimidation from what might be regarded as alien. With the lack of critical thinking, the extraordinary is rejected as "insane", with their intellect posing a perceived social threat on others.
People with neurodivergence see and experience the world differently. Our utter lack of being able to see reality beyond our perception, can easily compromise the potential of extraordinary folk, capable of contributing much to humanity.
This in turn leads to unique perspectives and experiences, irrationally traumatic as well due to the failure of the eccentric communicating themselves successfully to society, and due to society's failure to understand beyond labels and patterns.
It merely seems that these people are typical, even when their uniqueness is recognized. However, recognition requires depth beyond the surface level.
Many philosophers' unique perspective on reality might actually stem from their eccentricity. Philosophers like Diogenes, like Nietzsche and even Socrates, all were eccentric and their philosophies couldn't come into fruition without their unique experience of reality.
Then, why bother rejecting the eccentric, or being intimidated by them, when they can offer much benefit and insight for the greater good of humanity? Why condemn the very minds which can refresh and expand our understanding?
Only through greater inclusion, after all, we can optimize many aspects of our lives:
The eccentric shouldn't be rejected from job applications at times where their contribution can surpass conventional staff who conform more easily.
In philosophy, inclusion of many minds is imperative for our quest for the truth.
By including the eccentric in society, we can preserve social harmony with greater health. By comparison, oppression of people and of minorities is not morally healthy to maintain general order.
To understand eccentric people, we need to be open enough, both in our minds and hearts, to receive them, and understand that it is often for the greater good. People should be rejected when they pose a genuine threat, like those who prefer to murder. Those are the people who deserve it.
Understanding that not every eccentric man or woman is a bloodthirsty predator can help us integrate them better into society, and better enjoy what they have to offer, which is often plentiful.
Part III: My Encounter with the Extraordinary (Mr. Nathan Lasher)
My biggest personal transformation involved a shift in how I perceived intelligence. It's not just book smarts. Creativity is a key aspect that science struggles to explain. My own brand of intelligence is highly creative, and I believe there's a point where we simply appreciate these gifts without over-analyzing their origins.
My journey wasn't always smooth. Brain injuries left my consciousness trapped in a limited area of my brain for nearly two decades. A subsequent injury triggered a "release," and I believe my consciousness used an unconventional neural pathway to escape the damaged area. This experience, fueled by substance use which stimulated different brain regions, marks the vast potential of unconventional approaches to understanding reality.
Sharing such stories can be challenging. They can be unfortunately misunderstood as irrational emotional outbursts or even bipolar delusions. However, this experience solidified my belief that consciousness has a source, and that intelligence might be more profound than we understand. Perhaps the search for intelligence's essence lies not just in science, but also in philosophy and religion, similar to humanity's quest to understand the soul.
Part IV: Embracing Your Eccentricity (Mr. Nathan Lasher)
How my life went thus far is not only eccentric but also a good evidence to the power of neuroplasticity. My brain literally reorganized itself! While some might find this unbelievable, the power of the mind is greater than we might think. And it deserves the recognition of qualified professionals, too. Ultimately, the journey was a 20-year odyssey that led me back to a healthy, functioning brain.
Another layer of eccentricity comes from my bipolarity, primarily manifesting as hyperthymia, a state of persistent good mood and heightened mental performance. While some aspects of mania can be beautiful, the condition presents challenges most people can't grasp. My lifelong exposure to hyperthymia allows me to process manic episodes differently, finding clarity amidst the intensity.
I wear my strangeness as a piece of armor. It’s what makes me the person I am. Don’t ever be afraid to make your strangeness a part of you. Why would you want to mask it and be like everyone else?
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