Ever felt like you’re the human equivalent of beige paint? Not bad, not great, just there?
It’s okay because being “just okay” at everything doesn’t mean you’re doomed to live a life of mediocrity.
Being a jack-of-all-trades can be a badge of honor if you know how to use your skills right.
Here’s how to find freedom in being mediocre and become an unshakeable source of confidence at the same time.
Contents
Get Comfortable With Failure
Newsflash: everyone sucks at something, even confident people.
The difference is that confident people don’t let failure stop them.
They learn, adapt, and try again.
So, instead of avoiding things you’re not great at, dive in.
Take the opportunity to try something new for a change and see what happens once you step out of your comfort zone.
Every failure is a stepping stone to becoming “less okay” and more awesome.
Besides, when you’re not afraid of failure, you automatically become a little more confident.
Celebrate the small wins
If you’re waiting for a big, life-changing achievement to feel confident, then you’re gonna be stuck in limbo forever.
You gotta celebrate the little things in life, no matter how small it may be.
This is done to rewire your brain into focusing on progress rather than perfection.
Write down one thing you’re proud of each day on your “win journal”, no matter how small and over time, you’ll have a whole list of reasons to feel good about yourself.
Love thy self
Being hard on yourself won’t make you better at anything.
It’ll just make you miserable and hinder your ability to perform.
Humans were never intended to be perfect.
When you screw up, remind yourself it’s human to stumble.
When you succeed, give yourself a pat on the back, and doubly so.
Like minds attract one another
Perhaps it is time to let go of people who bring you down and downplay your achievements.
Distance yourself from those that make you feel like you’re not doing enough.
Surround yourself with people who cheer you on, no matter how “okay” you think you are.
Confidence is contagious, and having a support squad makes a world of difference.
It does wonders for you when you have people who genuinely appreciate the things that you can do.
It strengthens your self-esteem and gives you the motivation to push harder.
Who knows? They may also lend you a helping hand or see you as an inspiration and take up your hobby as well.
Play to your strengths
While being “just okay” at many things may not make you great in one area, it will make you seem more adaptable, resourceful, and well-rounded.
You can connect with people from all walks of life because you have a little bit of experience in many areas.
For example, you may not be the best at public speaking, but when it comes to giving speeches to your workmates in the office, they become highly motivated.
When you embrace your versatility, you realize that being “okay” is more of a superpower than a setback.
To make this work for you, try listing areas where your varied skills come together.
Who knows? You could come up with a unique skill set that you have among your peers because you can use your talents and combine them into something not one of them could do.
Confidence is a skill
Confident people weren’t born that way to begin with.
Confidence is a skill that you have to work at to become good at it.
You don’t have to start big. Small wins matter as previously mentioned.
Post that awesome doodle you made, or that amazing view you took a picture of, and post it on social media.
Unsure if you can run the marathon despite training for it? Enter and go the distance!
Each little win will help you flex your confidence muscle.
Pretend you’re confident if you have to, even if you feel like a nervous wreck inside.
Eventually, your brain catches up with your act.
It doesn’t distinguish whether or not you are pretending anyway and perceives it as you being confident.
Embracing “why not”
If humans never tried anything new, we wouldn’t have evolved as a species.
Those who dared to dream about flying high into the sky wouldn’t have been able to invent the very first airplanes.
Sure, it will take tons of trial and error, but your deeds will go into the history books.
Adopting a “why not?” attitude opens doors you didn’t even know existed.
Sure, you might be “just okay” at first, but who cares? Every expert was a beginner once.
Turn “Just Okay” Into “Uniquely You”
Everyone has their strengths and limitations: no one is amazing at everything, especially in their first try.
What makes you unique is how you turn your “okay” skills into something magical by combining them.
You may be a decent artist with a love for storytelling so if you combined those skills, you could create an awesome graphic novel that engrosses readers.
Your skills may not be as polished as the greats, but when combined, you may create a fun niche for yourself.
Stop Comparing Yourself
We all know of one person who can do it all or has the life we want to live in because of their skills.
We tend to compare ourselves to these successful people and see how our skills can’t compare to theirs. It’s just not fair!
Here’s the thing though: It does not matter.
The only person you should be comparing yourself to is yourself.
Comparing yourself to another person is completely irrelevant because you do not share the same experiences as they have.
You did not live in their shoes nor have their same exact motivations.
Are you better today than you were a year ago? If yes, you’re winning.
If not, that’s okay too.
Growth takes time, and life isn’t a race. It’s more like a weird, meandering hike where everyone’s taking slightly different trails.
Final thoughts
You are not worth based on your skills but by the fact that you exist.
Being mediocre allows you to prove your mettle by being versatile, adaptable, and full of potential.
Confidence doesn’t come from being perfect; it is coming from embracing who you are, with your flaws and all.
You’re more than enough and no one can take that away from you.
It is up to you to continue being the awesome individual that you are and to prove to yourself that you are one confident individual.
Enjoyed this post? You might also like these:
- Breaking Free from Perfectionism: Embracing Mediocre Moments
- Balancing Hustle and Relaxation: A Guide for Everyday People
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