Have you ever had anyone say to you redefine yourself? What did they mean by that? In its simplest form, we can all probably agree that it points to us “changing” ourselves in some way. It could be in how we move, talk, or dress. It could be what job we do or titles we hold. It could be where we live, who we socialize with, or what activities we do. The point is that our identity is created by the sum of our thoughts, words, actions, and choices. Although certain aspects of us are fixed by human biology, we are not static beings when it comes to our personalities and lifestyles. We can redefine ourselves within the limits of our malleable characteristics.

The same goes for our collective definitions. For millennia, society has tried to define pretty much everything in terms of what something is, how it works, and so on. From God and space to health and happiness. This is not necessarily all a bad thing because if societies are to function cohesively and effectively, there must be a foundation of shared understanding. Where we run into problems is when “society” or the “governing bodies”, be these religions or governments, try to define for us things that they have no right to define or define for us things incorrectly, meaning provide definitions that go against our greater good. This is where we enter dangerous territory, because flawed definitions lead to flawed behaviors and even outright dangerous groupthink.

As we look through history, we can see that many concepts, ideas, and beliefs that were once thought to be fixed have been redefined. A shared, common foundation of how we see and understand things is good, but authoritarian control and force over what to think and how to think is not. Sadly, most of the terms our society has defined for us do not serve us any better than most of the other rules and mandates they have set out for us. The more predefined and controlled something is the more it limits freedom of expression. Now again, to live as a cohesive and effective society, we must have some shared values, guidelines, and rules, but these must be strategically applied from a place of wisdom and justice. The key is to strike a balance between what needs to be defined collectively and what should be left to individuals to decide for themselves. It should come as no surprise that we have a long way to go to reach such a balance in our human society.

As such, human beings have forgotten who they are, what they are, and how powerful they are. We are still in Plato’s cave, watching the shadows and thinking that this predefined reality is all there is. This keeps us playing small, it keeps us stuck, and it prevents us from reaching our greatest potential. What is worse is that we are all expected to agree on and share similar views about certain sets of definitions that are bluntly erroneous, in order to be considered “normal”. For example, the predefined idea of a reductionist-material reality, which has been adopted en masse by all fields of science for a few centuries now, has been forced on all sectors of our society. This erroneous idea continues to mask the true nature of reality and distort all sectors that rely on it, such as medicine. Going outside of the status quo or questioning things in new ways is often met with disdain and even hostility, which defeats the purpose of growth and blocks the expansion of human potential. Thankfully, this predefined idea is showing many cracks these days, as more academics and laypeople are courageously speaking out about the nature of consciousness and its role in the nature of our reality. We are literally living through a time on Earth when we are redefining the very definition of our reality.

Pursuing the Natural versus the Normal

Therefore, one of the most important things any of us can do in our own lives is to consciously consider the definitions we live by and how they dictate the choices we make. What most of us consider “normal” is nothing more than a limitation of the human mind, body, and spirit, and a great deviation away from personal truths and needs. Like children, we do not all grow at the same rate, and we definitely do not all see things the same way at the same time. For this reason, the idea of “normal” and doing what is “normal” or being “normal” is very problematic. What is normal for one is not normal for another. What is “normal” at one point in time (history) is not “normal” at another. The evolution of the human mind, which drives our actions, choices, and behaviors, regularly changes what “normal” means.

The key here is not to reject everything and distort the idea of what “living one’s truth” or “truth is subjective” and “there is no such thing as normal” are meant to convey. Sadly, these concepts that are often said in well-meaning ways by people in self-help, spiritual, and New Age domains are misused by people with mental health concerns. As more people struggle with all kinds of mental health issues, their minds distort what is meant by such concepts to fit their perceived version of reality. So how can we distinguish between faulty definitions of concepts like “truth” and “normal” so that we do not distort or strip them of any real meaning or value? The answer lies in pursuing the “natural” versus the “normal”. What is defined as “normal” has too much fluidity, ambiguity, and changeability whereas what is “natural” is timeless when it is correctly defined, meaning following the Laws of Nature. For example, it may or may not be normal for humans to be born by a Cesarean birth, but it is not natural.

If we want to live a meaningful life, we need to seek out timeless truths and pay more attention to the Laws of Nature that help us understand, both, our human limitations and our human potential. The more we expand our understanding of the most important concepts that define our lives, rather than limit this, the more authority we have over ourselves and our lives. This, in turn, helps us rely less on external sources that provide skewed and faulty definitions that go against our highest good. Next, we need to practice humility and not assume that everyone understands things the same way as we do or that their choices need to make us comfortable. Each of us needs to live our lives in accordance with our own understanding, and to allow others to live theirs in accordance with their own understanding. We need to be mindful not to impose our understanding on others, as doing so usually stems from selfish motives and insecurities, not from any greater good. With billions of people on Earth from various regions, backgrounds, cultures, and upbringings, it would be arrogant to assume that the same definitions can work for all of us, all of the time.

It is essential to keep in mind here, too, that words are very, very limited. There is only so much that can be conveyed via spoken language, and even that depends on the richness of your vocabulary and communication skills. This is where intuition, feelings, and emotions tell us much more than any words ever could. But since our human race has dulled its intuitive abilities and has yet to fully develop them, and has not yet reached enough emotional maturity to communicate effectively, we still need to use spoken words to the best of our abilities and rely on shared definitions.

For all these reasons, and more, it is important to consciously consider everything you have learned and will learn, question previously held concepts, and redefine things as your understanding evolves. As long as we live based on the ideas and limitations of others, we miss the potential of who we are, why we are here, and what we came here to do. Seek to live in a state that is expanded, not limited, seek to be empowered, not enslaved, and seek to question, not assume. The more we can look at each person, situation, and concept with fresh eyes, the more we are open to new possibilities and transformations that expand our consciousness.