What is Roots to Healing’s definition of normal?
By Christina M. Berry, LPCC-S
How many times have you said to yourself, “I just want to be ‘normal’;” I’ve heard this a lot and when I’ve asked people what this idea means to them, they say:
I want to be able to get out of bed, take a shower and get dressed.
I don’t want to panic all the time.
I want to have a job, keep it, and do well at it.
I don’t want to yell at my kids or loved ones.
I don’t want to feel like everyone is looking at me and judging me.
I want to feel connected or like I belong.
I want to feel love.
Add want here __________________________________________________
Many of us can relate to this, so our version of “Normal” is: Being able to do what we want and need to do with greater ease and with less energy and pain. Don’t we just want to live life in a way that is most fulfilling for us.
Life becomes more colorful and more enjoyable to achieve when we’re able to make “normal” more about our individual needs and wants, rather than trying to squeeze ourselves into someone else’s standardized box that is too tight or is the wrong shape because we each have to live our own life.
