Jordan Peterson ~ When You're Too Different From Others 

"It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that." -G.H. Hardy

Someone told me “97% of people don’t like me” i told her to hang out with only the 3% who do like her, then she would be around 100% of the people who liked her.

Listening to him make me feel less alone

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." ---- Kurt Cobain

If everyone put their energy into being the best version of themselves instead of worrying what others think about them, their lives would be more interesting and fulfilling.

To all the "misfits", when it starts getting tough remind yourself of the joy of getting closer to the truth, stay strong boys..✌🏾

Both the Shaman and the Insane person have visonary experiences. The difference is that the Shaman manages to become the 'master' rather than the 'victim' of this burdensome gift.

I’m always in search of meaning for some reason I can’t stop thinking about shit that don’t matter to others

It Is No Measure of Health to be Well-Adjusted to a Profoundly Sick Society

Acknowledging that my loneliness and frustration comes from me being too different often triggers people to mock, saying “wow, you’re just SO unique and special compared to everyone else, aren’t you?” , which fuels the loneliness and frustration even more. But reading these comments have really comforted me.

Why doesn't the camera person understand that just because Jordan moves, doesn't mean the camera needs to move. Hit the wide shot and relax bro.

Being a contrarian does not win you many friends. It's like you're living in another realm of reality entirely and no one gets you.

My experience is that people either despise me for being how I am or madly love me

Usually the people who are okay being alone are also the strongest . They learnt to depend on themselves .

When you realise that you are too different from the people around you, one option is to embrace who you are and look for like minded people to have meaningful relationships with. The problem with this is that, if you intent to function well in society, it is essential to have your voice heard when it matters. This requires you to have a reasonable social standing in your workplace as well as in your place of residence. This brings me to the other option; get into a process of understanding your personality traits and identify the ones that are preventing you from being a functioning member in your society. I think JBPs self authoring programme is intended towards this end. This process takes time and will be painful and anxiety inducing, but you come out of this more complete than you were before ( although I am not implying a definite end point). This is not to say that you fake your personality, rather, it is about the belief in your ability to adapt, if you are willing to put in the work/sacrifice required for this. I would say that choosing the first option may not be inherently wrong. But, if you have a family (or plan to) and a regular job and live in a mainstream place, it would cost you highly (not necessarily monetary) to live like that. To conclude, I think that the second option, although difficult is the right way for most people who feel different and alienated. The important aspect is to have patience and take it slow as failures are unavoidable. Believe in your ability to adapt and change while recognising your limitations and most importantly being kind to yourself so that you don't become a tyrant to yourself.

A shaman is someone who is master of their visions, not a victim of their visions (like a schizophrenic). Love that. Very insightful

I first became aware that I was different than everyone else when I was 5 years old in kindergarten. We were asked to draw a house, a tree, the sun & some clouds. I drew a 3 dimensional house with windows, curtains, door, pitched roof and a chimney with smoke coming out of it. I drew a winding path that was broader at the bottom & narrowed as it reached the door. I drew a horizon line halfway up behind the house. I drew billowy clouds with the sun peeking out from behind them, above & behind the house. To the left, I drew a tree with limbs, branches & clumps of leaves & a few roots exposed above tufts of grass at the base. I drew a squirrel hole on the trunk and a few apples on the tree. Then I looked around the room at the 30 other kid’s drawings and was shocked to find no one’s drawing looked like mine! Every one of them drew a lollipop tree with a squirrel hole & apples, a one sided house on top of the horizon line, a straight path that looked like a ladder, circles for clouds and a sun coming out of the top left corner of the paper! I thought there was something wrong with me or my eyesight! 30 kids must not be wrong!? So, I turned my paper over & copied their drawings so no one would think I was crazy! Our teacher had been circling the room as she told us what items to include in our drawings & had been looking at each one as she passed by. When she saw my new drawing, she asked me what happened to my first drawing. I told her that mine was wrong because everyone else’s was the same except mine. I turned it over so she could see my finished drawing. She held it up for all to see & told the class that they were all wrong and mine was correct! Then she took us outside to look at actual trees & clouds & buildings with all the details I had drawn. This was a huge eye opener for me to not follow the crowd. To trust what I see. Not to be like everyone else. I never forgot this lesson. I was just 5 years old!

It’s very lonely and frustrating being “too different.” It sucks the motivation out of my life and doesn’t help my depression. A lot of things seem pointless now. Fast forward End of June 2021, I still feel like an alien, still have a few bouts of depression sometimes, nothing major…but Im now motivated to push myself forward with education and a career path ☺️ Update: Doing much better and I’m in a better place in life. I’m being myself and more carefree and responsible. It’s a great new chapter :)

I don’t want to assume that he’s talking about me because of confirmation bias, but I can’t help but feel at 26 yo I’ve always been that weird friend everyone came to for emotional articulation and I always search for meaning in every little thing. I do the weirdest things to give even strangers something different to think about and show them their strengths.

Jordan B Peterson.. My Internet Dad. I admire you and I love you. I am thankful to God for having you.

"To be so different that you're incomprehensible" I've never been able to articulate this but this is one of my biggest fears

An ancient Chinese proverb says, "Nail who sticks out the most gets hit the hardest."

Whenever I’m depressed, memories of his videos appear and it makes me feel so much more comfortable

Peterson teaching in the classroom is like brad pitt acting in your living room. Students of UofT had a celebrity amongst them, yet they decided to kick him out. Ironically, I can't thank UofT enough.

This man is brilliant. I can listen to him explore ideas all day.

I realized that I'm never alone my best friend is me and it's a relief to think that.... don't let the bad thoughts get to you hope all the people reading this gets the love and peace that they deserve 💓💓💓

As an asperger, this almost made me cry, honestly.

I’ve tried to fit in with people for 35 years and this year I’ve decided to give up. Now I’m just leaving society, I might work on a couple of personal projects but mainly that’s due to pass time while waiting to die. I’d probably take my life if it wasn’t so painful, sounds bleak but it’s actually logical as life is just suffering and struggling. I came from a poor, odd family, got bullied at school, did a lot of drugs (found connections with humans then until the drug years ended so realised that was artificial friendships) then I went to uni late, did exceptionally well in engineering and earned a tonne of money. Spent all that on dumb things I thought would make me happy, none of it did. Recently, I lost all that because of some morons I worked with but I think I’m happier without all that stuff and the pressure. I feel like I’ve tried everything life has to offer now. It was enjoyable when I was younger (especially when I tried good ecstasy back in the early 2000s - an experience I still to this day regard as the peak of my life, overshadowing all other achievements that a normal person strives for) The only thing I haven’t tried is having a kid which most people say is what life is about but I think that’s just cruel in this climate and how bad the world is getting. The kid will suffer as we did, struggle to find jobs, see the planet is dying, then watch their parent die before dying themselves, etc. I think if we’re honest the only people who enjoy life are either on drugs (which is transient) or are too stupid to have thought about it properly. I believe if you aren’t depressed and anxious, you haven’t thought hard enough. Even though it’s horrible to feel so alone, so down and so sick of listening to stupid people everywhere you look, I’d still say we’re better off being intelligent and alone. I would never want to be like these other people just because they ‘fit in’ better. People are idiots more than ever now, sheepish, judgemental herd mentality with lives so void of meaning that they find your originality offensive and have nothing better to do than live on social media to reassure themselves (I don’t class YT as social media, if used effectively, it’s the perfect educational tool). My only advice after all this time is, get out of the rat race ASAP as it will take your soul being forced to deal with these people. Even if that means living on the breadline for a few years while you come up with better ways of living. The typical life is no way to live, working for 60 years, just to buy some overpriced bricks while being a slave to a bunch of useless, hateful, closed minded zombies for some company that doesn’t care about you. Find love, peace, nature, good food, etc and spend time working on what you like even if it doesn’t make you much money. You’ll be richer in more meaningful ways. If you want a truly meaningful task and struggle to come up with something, Ive figured the most important problem, way ahead of climate change, etc. Is the brain. Study things like neuralink or CRISPR and help out in those areas. Reprogramming humans to not be so flawed, stupid, etc is the only way to fix this and if you think hard enough then all problems in our experience arise from issues with the brain. Whether that be psychological (depression, psychopathy, etc), physical (spinal injury, etc), even climate change (lack of empathy for future generations and greed for resources, etc), it all boils down to the flaws in the human brain. Good luck fellow loners, I wish you all well 😘

I was always an eccentric loner, for as long as I can remember. It's the main reason I had to quit social media years ago as it amplified any feelings of difference. I've learnt how vitally important it is to still try to remain connected with others even though it is near impossible to be accepted wholly for who you are. There are only a small handful you will find who can do this. 'I would rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not'

I've always been different. It bothered my mom tremendously. She wanted me to fit in and be liked. I can interact properly with society when I need and feel that is sufficient.

A few among us have a higher level of consciousness.

I am one of those who grew up not needing others because I knew wey more than most people ( in terms of wisdom). I developed discernment at an early age. I have learned to just accept it as normal. That is all can do. There is no competition going on... it is what is.

I'm quite unhappy, I always seem to think, say and do things that are different to what the majority of people are thinking, saying and doing. It's got to the point that I avoid people because I know that I'm always going to be the odd one out. I don't socialise at all and I have big problems with maintaining relationships although I used to find it quite easy to initiate a new relationship. I really don't know why this is and I think about it a lot, then I start judging myself and passing verdicts on my sanity. I've never had a " best friend " that has lasted more than a couple of years at the most. Like I said earlier, all of this is making me feel unhappy and sometimes I feel that I am completely different from every other person on this planet. I refuse to initiate any sort of relationship with someone of the opposite sex because, even if it did last for a while, I know that it's going to end badly, and I just couldn't face another broken heart. I know that I should be seeking professional advice but I'm not even confident enough to make the first step. I'm a 62 year old man with two divorces behind me, I've got issues with alcohol plus loads more stuff that I can't put down in words, but I just skip through life ignoring it and pretending that I'm a normal, well adjusted person. Is there anyone else out there who thinks like I do.

Alienation is real, once you surpass a level of intellect or experience within a group or peers.

I’ve found that I’m much different than others. But not everyone. And it’s not a bad different, like a low self esteem and longing for others acceptance. It’s seeing through how people are. Why they are and what they portray. I see the insecurity, self - entitlement, ego, which all in turn is driven by lack of self and acceptance. Just wanting to look great she look powerful etc. I keep out of it. It’s low quality living and I know what’s behind all that shit. Whether I’m judged on being judgmental for what I just said, I don’t give a fuck. I’m allowed to stay away from shit that disgusts me.

Guys I thought of an interesting solution to feeling somewhat isolated, depressed and anxious because of not fitting on with society, as well as being very inquisitive as to why people do things. I seriously think that because of this, we isolate ourselves and therefore deprive ourselves of our emotional need of belonging. There is the common and mass society that we could join if we wanted to, but to join that society means to abandon our own principles and to consciously conform to that culture. Personally, I find todays culture to be extremely narcissistic and psychopathic. And so the solution I propose is to create and/or find a group of people that share the same mindset as you. There are not many people, but I do believe that the root of our negative emotion is the fact that we are not satisfying our innate need for belonging to a group because of the reasons mentioned above. The society we are presented with may not be one we choose, but I believe we must choose some sort of society to be able to function at optimal mental health. What do you guys think?

Other than the feeding on the bark of trees, this sounds like me.

I feel like I’ve never been more alone in my life. The least I can do is be okay with it. I just feel like I can’t unsee some truths that I’ve learned and am more self aware in a sense than others, and that makes me feel different, and more alone.

When Peterson begins with “Alright... so.... now... the Shaman,” you know it’s gonna be good.

“So different you’re incomprehensible”? Welcome to my life.

"To be so different that you are incomprehensible. That's the sort of horror you don't want to encounter." Ah, yes. That summarizes all my training thus far to become a world teacher.

Just got fired last week because I made the new boss feel nervous. Probably because I took one look at him and instantly saw that he's a snake. It's like breathing to me, I look and I see and then I cannot unsee.

The giver (book/movie) is a fantastic example of this lecture. Love connecting the dots from JP’s lectures and seeing how utile they are irl. Peace to all of y’all and keep garnering knowledge!

I wish I had a teacher like Mr. Peterson back when I was in school he’s a great lecturer

I just love watching his hand gestures. :) Such an interesting man.

When you're a giant, you can have your head in the clouds and your feet firmly on the ground.

I shed tears over this.

He’s describing what Jung called Introverted intuition

the most hurtfull thing about being too different is seeing the people you love look at you with both pitty and disgust,but they try thier best to hide it from you.

as momma frigga said in endgame "Everyone fails at who they're supposed to be, Thor. The measure of a person, of a hero, is how well they succeed at being who they are."

Thank you Jordan Peterson. I hear you...thank you for the understanding. Hard times struggle now.

Love him or hate him... he's smart.

I couldn’t care less of people that don’t like me for who I am, but it’s getting to be troublesome because I have no friends at this point! Anyone relate?

"No price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself"- Nietszche It can be rough out there and the temptation of joining the crowd is there.

I know he’s not talking to me but this speech speaks to me. For most of my life I’ve felt that the beliefs and way of living for society in general is something I can’t comprehend.

Thank you so much for sharing this with me and all of us. I really, really needed this exact video in order to not get complitly insane.

Too Different's what's kept me happy.

Anyone else have no idea how others see you? When I think about certain people I work with, I know instantly what other people in the office think of them or how they would describe them. Yet when I think about how people at work would describe me, I honestly have no idea.

Wow, surprised to have never seen this snippet of lecture before! Tremendous depth and clarity in how he expresses these ideas.

His “alright so” is so cute. Wonderful lecture again

Everyone thinks they're special now.

I have a lot of experience where im alienated by my peers but i wonder at time, is it because i lack the understanding to actually communicate with other or do they just see me as the odd ball that should be left out, i do talk to myself but only to hear my thoughts, ive always felt i did it as a way to keep me from going insane ive never had some one who would actually listen to me, im was always left out of conversation or when i did join the conversations it would just stop, i never had anything worth talking about but i always gave my best effort to relate to people, ive come to realize maybe i dont need to vocalize my thoughts, parents never took me to get check to see if could get some help because i guess i seemed normal enough but i feel like it would have helped in the long run

The reason why I'm always going with this is that it has never happened to be in your head and I am deeply grateful that you are a true human being in this life of consciousness

Jordan Peterson is uniquely gifted at explaining complex abstract ideas in ways that all of us, almost intuitively, can understand & relate to.

3:50 "A lot of what cultures learn in an articulated sense, a lot of what they become conscious of, is presented to them by artists in somewhat unconscious form long before the full meaning of whats been portrayed is articulated"

Someone has to be the Keeper of the Flame... Has he played Dark Souls ?

love that man. thank you jordan.

I love who he is talking about . it completes my life. Thank you so much ...

I'm a med undergrad and I would skip neuro for a life lecture of Jordan Peterson

This state of being causes me much suffering...

Thanks!! I needed this.

I read here many inspirational thougths. Thank you people I need it, it's sometimes hard to stay on the line when deal with tough things . I am leaving this comment section a bit stronger. Thank you!

I’m 73 and to a fair degree have always “marched to a different drum”. Often I feel that the critics and nay-sayers are my best motivators and bring out my best efforts, I have also had a long history of hearing loss which though limiting in some areas also has an upside in that I can often focus more fully on a subject when needed. I have the greatest regard for true independent thinkers , they don’t come along that often and they give us so much if they can offer a new perspective on some aspect of life. My other great interest is the management of chaos, this I think is one of the most worthwhile mental pursuits one can consider as at one time or another we will all face a chaotic situation. There are processes that can be learnt that will really help us turn chaos into order. Having dealt with both fire and flood I have seen the value of good chaos management. A quote I read somewhere said bravery runs about to the limit of our training ; l’d certainly prefer to be well trained over being blindly brave, l know which is more effective and useful. Davox from Oz.

Being different has an effect, most people will not want to talk to you, most people are also shallow and uninteresting, but those that do want to talk to you will either be your best friends, the love of your life, or someone you will hate with all that you are. Difference is a filter, and your opinions and views are what allows someone past it, often because they think similar, or are equally as odd as you are. This can breed loneliness, we are told repeatedly that we must "fit" into society, reality is we need only function in it. It's not so much that we are alone, or that we are different, or that we don't fit in, it's that we feel alone, that we can't relate to most people. We in a way cause our own loneliness, by simply being unable to think like everyone else. Ultimately I'd say do not worry, we all find our group, the people we belong with, and because we all know its value, or should know, we are more likely to stick together, which in today's society loyalty and commitment seem to be absent.

He is a genius. I have listened to him for a long long time . listening his speech helps me learn to live.

I needed to hear this today. Different is the right word.

Man that's so scary when he talked about the schizophrenia hearing voices and things like that because i too hear voices and have been diagnosed with BP1 (the worst one) and find myself getting on fairly well in life. But that's only because i cope and I have also been diagnosed with autism. It is an illusion. I was born into and awoke from this depressing world, early in life , I would see through my high mind and see people literally fragmented. I was "just too much" and people didn't understand me, and still don't. But Hearing voices and stuff like that just means your intuitive, and perhaps you have esp.Which is a gift i think But modern science doesn't recognize this because it's not profitable for them.

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream by night.

Hats off to you JBP, i like you. You speak from the heart, there is no lying in you.

People has told me throughout my whole life that I'm wierd, not normal, special etc. Sometimes throughout my life during hard times I have begun to think it is because Im not 'normal' - it has taken me 30 years to understand that beeing unusual is something to embrace. Really, it is..!!

JP makes me wish I had furthered my education instead of taking the anti-establishment and angry route to adulthood. On the other hand I would not have found my soulmate had I taken a different path. Always look forward without regret and gain wisdom from the past.

I like the analogy made with a person who has Schizophrenia, and undoubtedly, its why I came here. I'm possibly 2 standard deviations to the right of the curve, maybe an INFJ (Myers/Briggs), and have paranoid schizophrenia. I love my solitude, I do dream, have intuition, people look up to me I have learnt, and people often seek my advice. Weird, weird, weird.

This is for me. I am a visionary. I live with my head in the clouds but my feet on the ground. I’m also pretty conscientious. I feel pretty special

This is a gem and treasure of a lecture!

INTJ here, I feel lonely because of lack of intellectual discussions of future prospects of how to implement a realistic eutopia on earth. People are busy with drama, violence or escape of either a healthy passion of love of life or engaging in the avoidance of their greatest fears, which ultimately and probably is our greatest solutions to our greatests problems. Anyone else feels this?

I simply don't know how to be a friend.

Thanks JP , that was fascinating .

I think it's important to separate being different from not understanding your difference. We are all different and it is hard to properly open up and share that with others but I think a huge disservice plays out if I try to tell myself those around me don't understand and cannot comprehend my thought process. We all literally see the world so differently in little meticulous and nuanced ways. But what I have learned through hours upon hours in daily understanding of myself is the more I develop an idea and foundation of who I am and what I believe in the more I become my own person, confident and individual to those around me, but also this better understanding with myself very directly translates to a more transparent relationship with those around me. Having a sense of difference from those around me, especially family, is an important tug my soul is trying to get me to notice to better establish that connection with my consciousness and the pure divinity we all share. Following that difference chops away little by little the commonalities and blindness that would otherwise stir and propagate slowly leading way to what it is I am meant to do. However while chopping away those commonalities and shared ground will reinvent and establish a more fulfilling life founded on structured and intentional thinking, it is a VERY challenging and isolating path. If you feel a sense of difference from those around you, feel empowered and chase it. Always build bridges and authentic connection between you and another person instead of allowing these misunderstood differences to blur your relationships because we all have our differences. We all simply find out in different times and show them in different ways. Understand yours, grow, and connect. Best of luck to you all in your lives 👃🏽🧡.

The lunatic, the lover and the poet Are of imagination all compact: william shakespeare

I will say it was a long process of meditation and release work until I reached the zero point and welcomed the beyond within. I have visions and am guided; all without drugs. Drugs can be a gateway and a trap. Learn how to connect to the universe from within, without the need for drugs to do it for you.

Thank you. Always impressed with your insight and delivery. Good work means a lot.

We have to be the light that guides the way forward.

Yo I am a shizophrenic shamanic outcast. Edit: Nice.

This guys brain work on a whole different level

Thank you for helping me understand myself beter once again jordan, thank you so much!!

You’re a brilliant Doctor

"But you are a chosen generation, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; " ~ 1 Peter 2:9

Life is hard when you're too different from everyone else...i have asperger and believe me it is HARD...

Dr. Peterson is my Shaman.

I love his mind! Just love him!!!