Normal is such a restrictive word. By definition, normal means to conform to a standard, and most often that standard is not set by anyone whose opinion you actually value or care about. So much of our lives, we are taught to fear the abnormal. So many people spend their whole lives pretending to be normal…and for what? There’s no grand prize at the end of our journey for fitting in.
In fact, denying ourselves and hiding behind other people’s expectations does much more harm than good. Each of us is unique. We have been fearfully & wonderfully made. We each have talents, skills, thoughts and ideas that the world needs. But the world will be deprived of our brilliance and creativity if we are constantly pretending to be something we’re not.
Today, I challenge all of us to take off the masks we wear, and lean into being our authentic selves. The more you practice, the easier & more natural it becomes. If you’ve been wearing a mask for so long that you don’t know or remember who are, I encourage you to devote time to self-discovery. As you get to know yourself, embrace every aspect. Don’t shy away. We are who we are — the good, the bad & the ugly. The abnormal, the weird, and the unconventional. When you do this, something amazing will happen; you’ll become the type of leader that makes space for others to do the same.
Know yourself that you can love yourself and realize just how amazing you truly are!
Note from the Author: Mondays With Maya is a series that began Fall 2023 as a way to share the lessons in leadership and life that I have learned from the legendary Dr. Maya Angelou. Please join me here most Mondays for small nuggets of wisdom. You can also find me on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn sharing practical application of leadership principles.
The Ed Tech Queen 