According to Thesaurus.com (2021 online), the word “responsible” is defined as:

adjective

-answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management  (often followed by to or for):He is responsible to the president for his decisions.

-involving accountability or responsibility, as in having the power to control or manage: promoted to a responsible position in the firm.

-chargeable with being the author, cause, or occasion of something (usually followed by for): Termites were responsible for the damage.

-having a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable; capable of rational thought or action: The defendant is not responsible for his actions.

-able to discharge obligations or pay debts.

-reliable or dependable, as in meeting debts, conducting business dealings, etc.

Synonyms:  honest, capable, reliable, trustworthy.

According to Yourdictionary.com (2021 online), the word “nonconformity” is defined as:

- a failure to match or act like other people or things, or a conscious refusal to accept generally accepted beliefs. When you dress differently and wear your hair differently than the popular styles because you want to reflect only your own taste, this is an example of nonconformity.

As nonconformists we are not the same as most of our peers.  We think, act, and often FEEL different from most people we know.  We frequently question the commonly accepted norms that we are expected to follow and find it difficult to accept those norms as easily as most of our peers.  Many of us feel frustrated by the expectation that we match those around us and that we comply with societal expectations without question.  We as nonconformists are usually the creative types, the independent thinkers, and the ones with big ideas and dreams.

Nonconformity can seem like a threat to the cohesiveness that organizations and society as a whole have come to expect.  Many people view being different as a fault or defect, after all the term “rebel” is frequently used to describe the black sheep of the family, which we all know is not a term of endearment.  Society has been built around the idea of cohesiveness and compliance.  Churches, business organizations, schools, and even families operate on the expectation that those who are part of a certain group must act and think in similar ways.  Not doing so puts us at risk of being negatively judged, criticized, forced to comply, or ostracized. This is mainly due to the common belief that being a nonconformist means having a disregard for others or for society. This is not true for most nonconformists, as most of us simply want to be successful for contributing in their own unique way.

For this reason, there is great risk in being a nonconformist.  There is also great value in it.  Even though society values conformity, the people many of us admire most are nonconformists.  Take, for example, artists, musicians, sports stars, inventors, activists, and world leaders.  It is these nonconformists who dare to take risks by stepping outside of the safe zone, by doing what others said they couldn’t do, by coming up with new ideas, by questioning the way things are done and pushing the limits of what has been done before, and by finding better ways to do things.  Without these successful nonconformists, the world would not only be boring, but would fail to progress.

Being a nonconformist bears the burden of responsibility…responsibility for ourselves, our communities, and our world.  Being a responsible nonconformist means we take care of ourselves while also contributing positively to the world and helping those who are less fortunate.  It means risking the judgment and rejection of others in order to be and express who we really are.  It means thinking and acting differently, being a trailblazer, creating new ideas and inventions for the world, speaking out for our causes, and inspiring others to do the same.  The world needs more of us to step out of the safe zone and risk being different.