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There is a Native American saying that “No one is nobody, everyone should be somebody, but some people are anybody.” You probably know some “anybodies.” You know the type, they change the way that they walk, talk, dress, and maybe even think, based on who is around.
But, do anybodies know that they’re anybodies? No one who’s somebody knows how to answer that. So, to make sure, here are 5 signs that you are a genuine person – that is, somebody.
1. You Tend to Be Confident
Most of the time, people who behave in non-genuine ways do so not because they want things from people – though that is sometimes the case – but because they are afraid of not fitting in. If you’re genuinely pretty confident in your own skin, chances are you never feel the need to be non-genuine. If you’re usually insecure, you might be an anybody.
So what’s an anybody to do? Be yourself. Not everyone is likely to like you but some people will. You can’t please everybody. It’s easier and more comfortable to be yourself around your friends than to keep switching hats every time that you encounter a new group.
2. The Friends of Your Friends Are Friends
We opened with a Native American saying but there’s also a great French saying: “Les amis de nos amis sont amis.” It translates to “the friends of our friends are friends.” It speaks to the idea of an expanded social network, that you should be able to get along with people that your friends get along with. But what if your friends don’t get along?
If your friends tend to dislike one another, it could be a sign that not all of them are really your friends and maybe you haven’t been genuine with everyone. It’s possible that you’re just a likable person but it could be a sign that you’re an anybody.
3. You Don’t Get along with Everyone
On a related note, not a lot of people get along with everyone. If you do get along with everyone, it could be that you aren’t the same person to everyone that you meet.
This doesn’t mean that you should get into fights or be rude to people, it just means that it’s okay for you to not like people and for people to not like you.
4. People Tell You
This one might feel a little easy but it’s true. Genuine people aren’t as scarce as you might think but they’re very valuable and the people around them tend to notice. If you’re a genuine person, you probably hear a lot that you are unique, or special, or that you stand out.
Similarly, most anybodies are eventually found out, often when two people or groups of people who don’t get along come together and the anybody gets caught in-between. Some people will call others in-genuine (or “fake friends” in the parlance of today’s youth) as a weapon but if you hear it all the time it might be true.
5. You Know
It’s not always the case but some anybodies know that they aren’t being genuine with people. For whatever reason, it’s something that they deliberately do. If this is you, once again, it’s not too late to stop. It might be awkward or even painful at first but it is more rewarding to be yourself rather than constantly wondering who is looking.
Similarly, you might know that you are genuine. You might even actively try to be genuine, pursuing your own interests and doing your own thing, even when it’s unpopular or even when it makes you unpopular.
You have a personality, you should use it. You should be genuine. You lead a more rewarding, more comfortable, and freeing life. There will always be people trying to get you to do what you’re told or be one of “the flock” but never lose sight of who you are, and never let anyone else lose sight of it either.
