Why Divergent Beings are Creative Genius (and How to Find Out if You Are One)

I’ve always felt different, but until a few months ago, I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. I looked “normal” (even boring if you read the following description) — and I was quite priviledged: a brunette, white, middle-class, average hight and weight, heterosexual (at least until now) and conventionally pretty 29 year-old woman.

If you looked at me from the outside, I would fit the mold. But my experience was extremely painful:

• I was suffering from nervous meltdowns when exposed to city noise.
• I was so empathetic being around other people’s strong emotions would leave me unable to function for hours, sometimes days.
• I was experiencing many food sensitivities, that had been worsening for years despite all types of treatments and diets.
• I was suffering from anxiety after many years of deep healing work and daily routine including healthy eating, exercising, sleeping, doing yoga, meditating, journaling…
• I could not “act normal” or follow a straight path: corporate work settings were physically painful, socializing in groups and with most people was draining, and my ideals in love relationships were never understood — nor shared.

And then everything made sense.

I am Divergent, are you? Let’s find out.

We could argue everyone is different in some way. You probably wouldn’t feel special if you felt like an outsider at some point in your life. However, if the sentence “I’ve always felt different” touches your heart… keep reading — there’s a good chance you are what I call a Divergent Being.

We are all unique, but not everyone has to leave behind their identity to belong.

• If you have always experienced a deep internal divide between being true to yourself and fitting in,
• if you have always felt like your experience of the world (your values, your feelings, your path…) is very different from everyone around you,
• if you have really deep empathy towards all beings (especially the vulnerable, no matter if they are animals, plants or people) and a strong sense of justice,

it’s likely you meet the first criteria of being Divergent:

Divergent Beings are forced to make a choice between authenticity and belonging.

Some Divergent Beings identify as neurodivergent. Or queer. Or highly sensitive. Or spiritually attuned. Or female. Or trans. Or artists. Or inmigrants. Or black. No matter the label (or absence of it), the thing is there is a huge discrepancy between their true selves and what their context can accept, value and embrace.

First criteria: feeling an internal divide between authenticity and inclusion.

I used to think this was the only criteria. I was so wrong! Let’s explore the second one:

When I learned about my neurodivergence, I was thrilled. It felt like I had been trying to find my way in a dark room (bumping into the furniture and walls), and now the lights came on.

Finally, I had a perspective that helped me see myself, and words to describe my experience to others. My whole history started to click into place. I was specially excited to share it with those I believed shared a similar experience. If this was a lightbulb moment for me, could it help them see themselves in a new light? Would we find mirroring in each other through this new lense? Spoiler: not really.

Surprisingly, I noticed many potential divergent beings (sensitive, radically different souls) were not only pushing themselves so hard to fit in, but also forcing others to do the same.

“Toughen up, acommodating yourself is not the way to go. It’s not only you, we all struggle, but we do our best to adapt, and you should too.”

They had internalized capitalism, or ableism, or racism, or sexism, or homophobia. They (consciously or unconsciously) still held the belief that their difference should be denied, hidden and fought against.

This broke my heart, as I felt the internal conflict caused by years of trauma, not feeling safe in being themselves, learned narratives and survival strategies (but we’ll leave that for another article).

Then emerged a second criteria: choosing authenticity beyond belonging (which is not solved by one simple decision, but rather a continuous path of navigating self discovery, healing and honest expression).

Divergent Beings are those who have quit fitting in. They have transcended their fear of being different. They are the ones creating a silent revolution just by existing in their true essence. They are the ones that have surrendered to their difference. The ones that feel the pain that comes with it and embrace it anyway. The ones that embark on a never-ending exploration of who they truly are. The ones that experience the extasis of living authentically.

Second criteria for Divergent Beings

Oh, beautiful brave souls! And why are they creative genius?

👀(Just a quick note: if you’re still reading this article, you are most likely a divergent being yourself. Just saying.)

I defined Divergent Beings as both radically different from the norm, and courageously authentic.

Divergence lives outside the norm. That’s why they (or us) don’t need to think outside the box, we already live there.

Some have additional creative gifts, such as sensory differences (hightened perception in neurodivergents for example), excellent pattern recognition skills (in many neurodivergents and people suffering from anxiety), hightened empathy (in highly sensitive people), hyperfocus (in ADHDers, autistic and gifted folks)…

Their individual traits differ from person to person, but they all share one thing: their lives are a beautiful creative act. Just by exploring their difference they are living a path that has never been walked before. What could be more creative than that?

But there’s more: they are experts in walking the talk (and believe me, I’ve worked in the creative industry for years, and this is everything but common). They transform diverse ideas and atypical ideals into grounded realities.

And more: they all share an outsider’s perspective, a different point of view of reality, society and systems. A viewpoint full of opportunities and change. A change rather necessary, filled with empathy, expansion and truth.

Hi, I am Jimena, gifted & highly sensitive. I’m a Strategist & Service Designer — freelance and as part of Supreme Creative Community & Studio. Thanks for reading my thoughts! 🖤

If you feel called to connect or know more, feel free to:

· start a conversation

· visit my website

· follow me on instagram, or

· take a look at my Linkedin profile.

I hoped you liked it! 🫶 Are you a Divergent Being? Let’s chat!