Unfortunately, many of us spend time thinking about what we ‘should’ be doing, rather than allowing our hearts lead us in the direction we really want to go. I'm more nerdy and introverted, less religious, and more open minded compared to my family. Learning what makes you happy is more important than trying to fit someone else’s idea of a successful life. Be happy with yourself. One way to help yourself is to make some time for yourself, to relax and enjoy what you like and then make time for the rest of the world, including family. Realizing you don't fit in with your family is difficult to handle emotionally. But as I’ve grown older and started a family and career, it’s become an important part of my values to show up for others, for my friends, family, career, and myself, even when it’s not comfortable for me. I’m 18. I live with my father, mother and sister. Don't try to force them to fit into who you want them to be. I feel like a complete outsider in my family. To them, different equals bad. I have convictions. I ask “what is the truth”. I tend to be more outspoken than my peers, less religious, more bookish, more alternative… You do fit in with the family of God. Subject: I don't fit in with my family at all and I'm stressed out. I yearned for acceptance, so I spent much of my time trying to be someone I wasn't. You have an independent mind. The thing is, they're really lovely people. I just don’t fit in. Everyone who knows them loves them, and they're all really tight but I've never felt like I belong with them. My older relatives who passed away were more accepting and understanding. They are very insular, very involved with each other, and very apt to causing problems amongst each other if the others don't fit into what they expect of them the instant they expect it. I … They're also passive aggressive in … But figuring that out as a teenager can be life-changing. I neither fit in with them nor do they treat me like a part of the family. Hi, I don't know if this is the right place to put this but I [20/f] have never felt like I really fit in with my family. Being mixed-race is only one of the factors that make me different. You state your opinions loud and clear. Accept you do not fit and be good with it as the more you read, grow and learn the less you will fit. My family and I work on different levels. For me, it translated into a low self-worth, no self-esteem, and reckless behavior. I used to handle it by doing my best to avoid groups where I didn’t fit in right away. Grow in your wisdom and spirituality. don't fit in with my family. 2. Of course, my family history does partly define me, but mostly not in the way that those people think. I have learned that its more important to work on being a good person. Take me for example. My family (as in parents and siblings) don't talk to me much or spend time with me or tell me about anything that's going on in their lives or in the family. You don't fit in with the crowd, so you can't sit back and agree with a matter you don't believe in. This sounds exactly like my DH's family. Anonymous: Anonymous wrote:I've always felt like the black sheep per se. I’m trying to be a “better” person, and although I may not have any clue what the means, or how to go about doing it, I’m trying. I am in the same situation but instead of feelings of depression from this, I’ve accepted that I am always going to be the “black sheep”. How to deal? We don't always fit in with our families as much as we would like to. Instead, it defines me as different. Do good things to other people. First I’d like to say I understand.