Have you noticed that the word normal sometimes has negative connotations? Many see it as a comforting word like when someone who has gone through a tough time says, “I cannot wait for things to go back to normal.” What is the real meaning of normal? The definition says that normal means conforming to a standard, usual, typical, or expected. Normal implies a lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as usual or expected.

Problems begin when we try to fit people or things into a limited box like that. Childhood milestones are a good example. There is a list of guideposts for what children should be able to do at what age. Parents don’t always see these as the rough guidelines they are, and they worry that their children aren’t normal because they haven’t met a milestone yet. When talking to parents who have older children, you can learn that children are all different and will probably meet those milestones at their speed.

The next problem is when a society defines what normal is, but as an individual, you don’t fit into that category. You aren’t part of the norm, and you are labeled as different or strange. We have enough problems with self-esteem without always being reminded that we aren’t meeting expectations.

Trying to be normal can stifle our creativity. If we are always afraid of stepping out of the bounds of what is expected as the norm, we might not improve our sensibilities. Stepping out of our comfort zone can help us grow.

So many people try to maintain a mask of being someone they are not because they are afraid if they show who they are, others won’t accept them. Think of all the famous people we admire who made a mark on history because they decided to be their version of normal. Now decide if you want to fit into the normal box, or do you want to be authentic and possibly much more interesting. The choice is yours.