How Shock Translates Into Norm

Society is not a rigid thing. The ideas flow and keepchanging as you evolve. Slavery is a bad thing, and you won’t tolerate it now.But that was a serious business for most of history. And most people didn’tmind because it was the norm.

Take a same-sex relationship, for the majority of thehistory, it was a topic of instant hate. The couples were harassed, punishedand made an example.

Now that you look back, you wonder why the things were sobad. You are comparing the now of society with the past of it. And thereforeyou are bound to found twisting ideas. Take this as a cue, and you canunderstand that – you have the power to bend society.

Society is made up of people. And they are hard-wired tobelieve this is the way. Because it works and helps you live a good enoughenvironment.

But if you feel strongly about something then put yourassertions out there. Talk about it – find the outliers who can dive in withyour ideas.

That’s how society changes. But whatever you do – try to doit for the good causes with your heart in the right place.

Shock

Initially, if you do something which isn’t the norm, thenyou will be seen as a weirdo. People might get shocked. For example, considerthe discussion around genders. It challenges the age-old assumption that there areonly two genders. So when you give your point of view around multiple genders,people get taken aback.

And they are confused. But as long as you are coming from aplace of empathy and doing something to make people inclusive, you will findother people who will join you.

Slowly, enough people will buy-in, and then it will becomethe new norm. And when someone tells about multiple genders, no one will bat aneye. Because it is the new normal.

What Should You Do

Hence, as an individual, you should strive to leave theworld in a better place than it was. And you can do so by impacting at leastone person.

At the same time, you can join movements which are kindaweird but in the right direction as per your rationality. So that it becomesthe norm. Some of the movements I feel strongly about are – men, womenequality; remote work culture, gender fluid in clothing and exploration ofspace.

Whatever makes you feel fantastic and makes you feel likeyou are doing something to make the society a better place, do it.

Sure, you might be wrong, but time will tell. Till then, beopen about different possibilities, be respectful and then stand by what youbelieve in. And slowly your weird, shocking thing will become the norm.

Like it wasn’t there in the first place. Yes, it will behard. It has to be. Else, everyone would be doing that. And that’s why youshould do it – it gives meaning to your life.