The Real Flex of Existing: On Being Both Rare and Small in a World of 8.2 Billion People

Embracing the paradox of individuality and interconnectedness in a noisy world

The most fascinating truth about life is this: there’s only one you.

The global population stands at roughly 8.2 billion people (see reference here). That’s 8.2 billion unique experiences, perspectives, stories, and personalities — and yet, not one person is exactly like another. It’s an interesting reality that highlights both the vastness of humanity and the singularity of self.

What’s even more wild is that some estimates suggest that the odds of any one person being born — when accounting for ancestral lineages, genetic combinations, and the precise timing of conception — are about 1 in 400 trillion (see reference here). That number is nearly incomprehensible. It means that your existence is not only rare — it’s practically impossible (or a miracle, depending on your perspective).

And yet, here you are. Breathing, thinking, moving through a world with 8.2 billion others — all of whom beat similarly impossible odds.

Reflecting on this number in the context of the broader universe — with its billions of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems — brings with it a humbling realization: we are incredibly small in the grand scheme of things. The minor irritations of everyday life — being cut off in traffic or receiving no reply to a friendly “good morning” — begin to lose their weight when seen through the lens of such immensity.

It also puts opinions, preferences, and personal viewpoints into perspective. Each of us holds just one voice out of billions. While this can feel disorienting, it’s also liberating. It reminds us that not every disagreement or unmet expectation requires our full emotional investment.

Yet here lies the paradox: in the midst of this universal vastness, there is something profoundly connective. Despite being one among billions, this is the only moment in history where this particular configuration of people will ever coexist. The fact that we are alive at the same time — sharing time, technology, challenges, and even cultural moments — is no small thing. It’s a shared experience that quietly binds us, even when we feel alone.

But perhaps the most important takeaway is this: our uniqueness should not only humble us — it should embolden us.

In a world shaped by algorithms, social norms, and traditions that often demand conformity, remembering that you are one of one is a radical act of self-liberation. It is a call to be original. To resist the pull of societal expectations or rigid customs that no longer serve you. To create, live, speak, and think in ways that are aligned with your truth — not curated for mass appeal or passed down without question.

Here’s a paradox worth sitting with: the odds of you being born are 1 in 400 trillion — and yet, you are just one of 8.2 billion people alive right now. You are both impossibly rare and part of a giant human web. That tension — between significance and smallness — is not something to resolve, but to embrace. It’s what makes life so rich.

How would you show up differently if you fully embraced the power of being one in 8.2 billion people — and the miracle of beating 400 trillion to 1 odds just to be alive?

Thanks for reading :)

If this reflection resonates with you, consider sharing it with a colleague, friend, or loved one. Sometimes, recognizing the paradox of our existence — being both remarkably rare and humbly small — is exactly what we need to reconnect with purpose, authenticity, and one another.

That’s all for now,

Asiah R.