The insanity of the normal

Here are a few related quotes from different people to think about today.

“What we call ‘normal’, is really a psycho-pathology of the average. It’s so widespread we don’t even notice it.” – Abraham Maslow

“It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”

In my personal experience, ‘normal’ is no way to take advantage of our potential. I have not thought or behaved in a ‘normal’ way in many areas of my life.

Think about what is possible for you rather than what is.

Excellence in everything

“The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because philosophy is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Neither its pipes nor philosophy will hold water.” – John Gardner

We need excellence in what you do.  

Bring it!

Decide and Act

Humans have the power to choose. If we don’t make choices for ourselves, choices will be made for us. 

Choose the direction of your change and act on that choice.  

Be self-actualized. We become fully human by our day to day decisions and commitment to them.

What choice have you made and followed through on in the past that got you here? Do you need to make any more choices now? 

Therapy

Abraham Maslow says that most psycho “therapy” is “a search for one’s own values.” When we don’t make decisions from our values, we feel conflicted, lost or make bad decisions.

Sometimes we get caught up in someone else’s values or the expectations of a group or other individuals and forget to be true to ourselves.

Live your values, not someone else’s.

Arguing with reality

When you argue with reality you lose, but only 100% of the time.

The sooner you accept what is, the sooner the futile fight to deny it is over and the sooner you can work to change it (if you wanted to).

What do you need to stop arguing with?

Styrofoam Weights

Would you go to the gym and work out with styrofoam weights? The heavy stuff makes you stronger.

Life is a gym. Do you wish you did not have challenges? They make you stronger.

Perk people up!

“Praise does wonders for our sense of hearing.” – Arnold H. Glasgow

Try it within the next hour.  Genuinely praise someone and see how they respond.

Who are you meant to be?

When you have a clear head, which may be now since it is likely to be morning for you, answer this question.  

An acorn is supposed to be an oak tree.  A caterpillar is supposed to be a butterfly.  A puppy is supposed to be a dog.  They become these things automatically.  For people, it’s more varied and complex. 

We can be different kinds of people and different kinds of creators and contributors in the world. Who we become is shaped by our decisions and commitment to them and whether we listen to the real person within us clamoring to come out.

So, all your history aside, and knowing what you now know about the person you were meant to be inside you, “who were you really meant to be?”

Mad enough…

“When people are sad, they just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.” – Malcolm X

What are you angry about? Angry enough?

The World is Getting Better All the Time! Part 2

Need more good news? In 1979, oil spills hit a record high with 696,000 tons of oil spilled from tanker ships. Today just 6000 tons are spilled and it’s going down each year.

In 1800, only 10% of humans could read. Today it’s 86% worldwide. That will help people be peaceful, productive, and reduce the chances they are manipulated by strongman regimes.

In 1816, only 1% of the world’s population lived in a democracy. Now 56% get to vote who their leaders will be.

In 1893, only 1 country had equal rights for men and women to vote. Now 193 countries out of 194 do.

There are more and more reasons to be happy about the world we live in, no matter what you hear on the news.