Theresa Larsen
follow me on these sites
  • Cutting The Soul
  • Theresa Larsen
  • Blog
  • Awards, Excerpts, Reviews, and Comments
  • Author Interview Questions
  • Resources
  • Book Information and Other Posts

The Wish to be Normal

5/19/2015

2 Comments

 
My son experiences major depressive disorder, anxiety, and occasional psychosis. Last week he stood in front of a large group of people at a funeral and gave an eloquent, articulate, and heartfelt speech. Later that day someone said, “He looks so normal, you would never know that he had any problems.”

What is normal?

According to the online dictionary the word normal means to conform to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural. When talking about psychology the word means approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.

“Approximately average” is not what I strive for in life. I hope that no one strives to be approximately average. So why do we wish to be normal? During some of my son’s darkest times he did just that, “I just want to be normal,” he said. And his counselor responded, “Maybe you need to redefine what normal is.” We need to do more than redefine normal; we need to stop using the word.

Instead of describing someone as normal we should talk about people in terms of personality or strides they have taken. For example you could say, “He is well spoken, he has a varied vocabulary, he writes well, he makes a presence in a room, he works hard,  he is interesting, polite, humorous, soft-spoken, kind, or any number of adjectives, but please, not normal.

When experiencing a mental illness wish for health, happiness, creativity, resourcefulness or strength, but please don’t wish to be normal.

The renowned psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Jung said, “To be normal is the ideal aim of the unsuccessful.” Jung was determined to live his life in an uncompromisingly unique way. Don’t compromise to live a normal life. Reach high, aim for uniqueness, and don’t be normal.

Picture
2 Comments
Kristen B link
6/8/2015 11:41:04 am

A friend of mine once said, "Normal is not a compliment." I enjoy being who I am. Why should I try and fit a word?

Reply
Theresa Larsen link
6/10/2015 08:39:31 am

Absolutely Kristen you should be who you want to be. If we were all "normal" we'd all be the same, and how boring would that be. Thanks for the comment.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2018
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Click on the RSS Feed link  above to follow my blog

    Click on the All word below to view all blogs in a given year

    All

    RSS Feed

    Author Note

    The views expressed on this page are my own and should not be used to replace licensed medical care. Please note some stories may cause triggers for self-harm.

Proudly powered by Weebly