Everyone nowadays is obsessed with excellence. If you are mediocre, you suck. Social media loves to glamorize the extraordinary achievements and the talented, but what if you aren’t one of the top elite? You can still shine just as brightly if you embrace your mediocre talents.
Doing so does not mean you settle for less but embrace your journey in finding your joy. You get to set the definition of success according to you based on your own experiences. For us to help you shift your mindset, let us take a close look at how we can achieve this.
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My “why”
For some, earning the highest accolade in sports, earning income at the 8-digit mark, or becoming the most recognized brand in the world is their definition of success. Others, however, may simply say that being able to compose a beautiful story for their kid’s storytime or making that first visit to the gym is what success means to them.
Success is subjective: what it means for you is vastly different for another person.
“What is it that brings you joy in life and gives you the greatest feeling of accomplishment?” Discover your whys and learn more about yourself to become more fulfilled in life, and to no longer need external validation.
We can relate
Everyone loves a good underdog story. The stories posted on social media are filled with success stories from established individuals.
The ones that resonate with people, however, are ones coming from humble beginnings: those who share their failures with the world, their amateurish attempts at art, or even their awkward first dates.
As they develop their skills and grow more confident, the people viewing their stories become engrossed as they follow your journey. You connect to them because you are relatable and inspire them.
Go with your strengths
Just because your cooking skills pale compared to Gordon Ramsey doesn’t mean you can’t aspire to enter your first cooking competition. Use your skills to uplift everyone around you because you never know if you will make someone’s day.
Instead of continuing to compare yourself with the greats, focus on what you can bring to the table. You may not be as skilled as the greats, but to someone who doesn’t have that skill, you could be in their eyes.
Be in the present
Self-expression is the act of engaging in an activity that allows you to unleash your fullest potential without fear as you express yourself unrestrained. We become absorbed with the present as our thoughts and energies are focused on the activity.
When you become focused on an activity you enjoy, you become more motivated to stick with it and develop your skills more. Even if your skills were mediocre, sticking with the activity allows you to grow and develop further thanks to being consistent.
No one’s an island
Collaboration brings growth and success that a person who isolates themselves can only dream of. Those that choose to stay alone usually hit a glass ceiling that they tend to be unable to overcome.
Those who learn to collaborate, however, realize their so-called mediocre talents become essential.
In team sports, a player may be able to do multiple roles but this may stretch them too thin. By letting other players fulfill the other roles, they can rely on their comrades as they claim victory.
You may not be that good of a blocker yet, but with enough practice with your team, you can become decent thanks to you collaborating with them.
Killing perfectionism
Perfectionism has always been the bane of progress as it demands nothing short of perfection as the margin for success. It can easily frustrate a person who can’t attain it, leading to them giving up and abandoning their once-beloved hobby.
Mediocrity, however, allows you to have the freedom for growth by celebrating your small wins. You may have incremental growth, but guess what: you are winning nonetheless.
The reason you celebrate your small wins is to rewire your brain into becoming more focused on progress rather than perfection. The positive reinforcement you receive is a boon that boosts your confidence and motivates you to do better.
Self-motivation is key
It can be hard if no one is there to root for you. When all you’ve got is yourself, you’ve got to have positive self-talk to boost yourself.
Instead of focusing on what you lack, turn to what you have. Practice affirmations: appreciate what you can bring to the table and focus on having a growth mindset.
While it can be difficult, it is not impossible. You just need to remind yourself that even if you fail today, you always learn something new and can try again until you succeed.
Low expectations garner freedom
When you don’t expect perfection, you’re free to experiment without the fear of failure. You can step outside your comfort zone and discover more about yourself and your skills.
You may even learn a new hobby that could be a new path towards success that you never would have expected if you stuck with what you knew.
Remaining enthusiastic while not expecting too much grants you the freedom to simply enjoy and be in the moment. You allow yourself to commit mistakes and learn from them without being solely focused on making the right decisions.
The bigger picture
In reality, even if you did become successful, did it inspire those around you to dig deep and do the same? Your legacy is not defined by your success but in what it did for those around you.
Just because your invention made you millions, it means nothing if it was the reason for catastrophic events.
It is defined by how it enriches the lives of others that have been inspired by your story of growth, your never-say-die attitude, and your unshakable will to improve yourself.
Your ability to motivate and inspire others grants a lasting impression on everyone, making them want to follow in your footsteps.
Closing Thoughts
Mediocrity allows you to explore your skills and abilities without the pressure of perfection bogging you down. By embracing your average talents, you redefine what success means to you.
As you continue to improve, you shine brighter by motivating others and inspire them to become the best version of themselves. To shine brightly, after all, is not to outshine others but to uplift them.
Enjoyed this post? You might also like these:
- The Art of Celebrating Small Wins Why They Matter More Than You Think
- Breaking Free from Perfectionism: Embracing Mediocre Moments
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