What defines normal?
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been a little stubborn. I like to do things my way, and if things are not done they way that I like it, then I will often shoot myself in the foot and re-do something. This is just the way I am, and for me that is totally normal.
The other day someone posted a short quiz on Facebook and at the end you had to choose a color and a certain object. The results were amazing. I had my mother and father, as well as my two son's do the quiz and we all picked the same color and object. When my husband came home later, I asked him to do the quiz and he got a totally different answer than we all did.
Here is a link to this quiz. It is quite amazing to see the result. It totally fascinated me and made me think about a few things.
What is the difference between NORMAL and ABNORMAL?
This last weekend my husband and I had an argument about a puzzle that we were building. He wanted to start in the middle and work his way out, but I told him that it was not normal to do it this way. In my mind you start at the edges and work your way to the middle.
His main argument was it did not matter how you build a puzzle, or from which end you start, you will eventually finish the puzzle, and then zap, I saw his point.....
Later that evening after everyone went to sleep I was thinking about this argument, and I came to the conclusion that normal for me, might not be normal for anyone else.
So what exactly is normal?
Can the word normal even really be defined? I have thought about this very long and hard, and I came to the clear conclusion that there is just no such thing as normal and for that matter abnormal should also not be considered as a word.
According to the dictionary these two words can in fact be defined.
Normal is defined as:
conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.
serving to establish a standard.
And in psychology normal is defined as:
approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.
free from any mental disorder; sane.
Abnormal is defined as:
not normal, average, typical, or usual; deviating from a standard:
abnormal powers of concentration; an abnormal amount of snow; abnormal behavior.
So who decides what is normal?
I really think that we need to re-think this......
If our emotional state seems stable, does that mean we are normal? Most of us have our ups and downs, so does that mean that we are sometimes normal and sometimes abnormal?
What is right for me, might not be necessarily right for you....
I was taught to be nice to people and to do things for others because it doesn't cost anything. Perhaps you might feel that you need to be rewarded for helping others. Does this make me abnormal? Nope, to me it is normal because it is and will always be the way that I do things.
If you are defined as a normal person does this mean that society will accept you more readily because you act the way that they believe you should act?
A few questions come to mind:
- Just because most people are heterosexual, does that mean that being gay is abnormal?
- If one child colors in a picture perfectly with bright colors, and a different child only uses one color, does that make him abnormal?
- If wearing black to a funeral is normal, does it mean someone wearing white at the funeral is abnormal?
It is a rather sad case actually, and we are not all the same. We just have to give everyone the chance just to be themselves. This is definitely not a case of "what is good for the goose is good for the gander" but rather a case of uniqueness and that we are all perfect in our own way.
Whether we see ourselves as NORMAL or ABNORMAL we are all just part of the daily struggle to make it through this life.
My advice to everyone is to be as NORMAL as you can be...whether it is ABNORMAL for others. Don't let society rule.
Don't let anyone prescribe to you what is wrong and what is right. Be your own person....
ABNORMAL IS SOMETIMES VERY NORMAL.....
“Our lives are mere flashes of light in an infinitely empty universe. In 12 years of education the most important lesson I have learned is that what we see as “normal” living is truly a travesty of our potential. In a society so governed by superficiality, appearances, and petty economics, dreams are more real than anything in the “real world”. Refuse normalcy. Beauty is everywhere, love is endless, and joy bleeds from our everyday existence. Embrace it. I love all of you, all my friends, family, and community. I am ceaselessly grateful from the bottom of my heart for everyone. The only thing I can ask of you is to stay free of materialism. Remember that every day contains a universe of potential; exhaust it. Live and love so immensely that when death comes there is nothing left for him to take. Wealth is love, music, sports, learning, family and freedom. Above all, stay gold.”
― Dominic Owen Mallary
Normal to my understanding is just flowing with the majority, the majority decides what is normal if 70% of a group starts doing a particular thing in a particular way if the remaining foes contrary to that they may be said to be acting abnormal.@giantbear normal is what majority decides but it doesn't make the minority wrong in their doings.
I'm very happy that I'm not alone on my views on this topic.
My whole life I have felt as if it is a crime to try to conform to what is considered normal, or ordinary, when life is such an extraordinary gift.
Thank you for this!
That made me smile, reflecting on life and thinking about those two words, each person perceives an event differently. Each color has a different meaning in our variety of nations and peoples.
A neighbour many years ago got married in black, she had been married before, reflected that white had not worked for her, perhaps black was the answer. She is still happily married to her second husband, some logic in that.
Ha ha....I literally confused myself with this post but it does make sense doesn't it?
nothing is and ever will be normal. the world is as you see it
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"normal" is defined by the power majority
Fascinating debate....what is normal? I think society influences what people view as normal or not.....it can be very subjective....
I personally also often experience it. some think we are different. I agree, whatever anyone thinks, it does not prevent us from becoming ourselves. thank you enlightenment @giantbear
Actually
"Normal" in my eyes is a reflection of our conditioning, for we are all unique, and using the term "normal" inevitably implies comparison and differences. No one is better or worse, more important or less important. We are all of the same One Light expressing itself in endless ways by means of each Soul. The Soul is the driving force behind everything, the thoughts merely at the effect. Our Soul knows of its Wholeness yet our thoughts don't, for thinking itself is an act of Separation, which means thoughts only create differences and problems. If everyone allowed for mental Silence instead of Ego-based thinking, these differences and problems would cease to exist and bring forth our similarities and mutual connection yet at the same time each Soul's unique gifts :)
Great post. I agree that we should just be ourselves and not try to fit into the belief of what's normal versus abnormal.
giantbear , you came out of nowhere and you are killing it in Steem with stunning content. This truly shows that when one is dedicated success does not take long to follow.
giantbear is a straight shooter and I am glad to see that he continues to give solid advice.