Average vs. Awesome
“Average” gets a bad rep! But what if you do “average” really, really well?
Hear me out.
I’ve always had a lot of projects. I used them to keep me motivated. They were, of course, usually fun and often inspiring.
But I read something recently that makes me wonder if perhaps I was trying to deal with the fear of being “average.”
I have, and we all have, the ability to convince ourselves that no matter who we are, where we are, or what we’re doing, it isn’t enough. We could always be doing more and, perhaps, should be!
This fear of “average” is nonsensical, but we often do it anyway.
All our “friends” on Facebook seem to be doing awesome things, touting their perfect vacations, their talented children, their creative activities.
And we tend to compare our
own life’s “first drafts” to their “polished” presentations.
It’s like we are running a race we can’t possibly win. We diminish our personal accomplishments, our professional triumphs, and often discard our ideas as not being “good enough”.
We shouldn’t run from average – but instead, redefine it. Your average may be exceptional to someone else. And your average may be routine and ordinary by the measure of others.
I’ll share this quote from Brianna Wiest’s recent article titled “The Problem With Average”:
“Growth is not perfectionism. Happiness is not perfectionism. Growth means to bloom where you are planted. Happiness is to be enamored by the plant.
To be doing what most others are isn’t subpar. Common does not mean undignified. But what does is when we start making disingenuous choices to be “above-average.” Not because we feel compelled to but because they will allow us to define ourselves to others in a way that will receive a certain reaction. I am this, I am that, I am worthy. But it will never be enough. Because there will always be people scoffing.
So we have to start seeing ourselves as people who embrace their ability to choose and think and change and enjoy their morning cup of coffee and call themselves average if it’s comforting and dismiss the entire concept if it’s not.
Because the whole idea that people are or aren’t worthy based on what they do or have done is not only irrelevantly dangerous but is also demeaning and ignorant.”
You’ve written a blog? Great, someone else has written a book.
You started a business? Who cares, someone else has been running their own and making millions for years.
See where I’m going here?
This is a call not only to stop measuring yourself by the accomplishments for others – but a call to do whatever it is you do exceptionally well.
And that will be awesome!
“I am only an average man but, by George, I work harder at it than the average man.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
7 Comments
IT is easier to just be average and spend time enjoying life and helping others when needed. Share part of your life with others so they can enjoy things too. Not everyone has all the money and stuff, hard for them to keep up with themselves. Just have an average life and not worry about the game to become well known and famous. When you help someone getting food when they are hungry, the best reward you will receive is a smile and a thank you. I send post cards to a 3rd grade class so they can see pictures of other places. They can find where those places are on a map and see what things look like. The simple way to take a trip but still learn about it anyway. Average sometimes does do above average things for others. Earl
Earl, I love your concluding sentence as it shows average can well be awesome as well! Enjoying and helping-two great ways to be awesome.
I get the idea that comparing ourselves with others is not productive and not good for our spirits. However, the word average has no inspiration for me. I prefer the word unique since we are all unique persons and can be whatever we choose without worrying about others.
Mary Kay, how very true that comparison with others is not productive nor good for our spirits. And I love your word “unique” as a descriptor, just eliminating the word “average.”
I have always found myself doing the ‘above average thing’ at work. You want people to think you are better than most or even the best at the tasks they give you at work. I also realize it is easy to do with family, especially raising children and impressing the in-laws. Either way, you end up living your life to impress. And, sadly, others are rarely impressed.
Dave, I agree that others are rarely impressed. I think it’s because they are trying to impress too!
The word ‘average’ in our culture has taken on a negative index, sadly. Somehow our place on the right hand side of a bell curve on any issue is a good thing, and in the center or on the left….well, not so good. In a word, average or below average. sigh.
I’m always torn between wanting to excel – I had two sisters who were each very much ‘better’ than I at lots of things- and just not thinking about comparisons at all. It rarely works for me, though, as I seem always to be aware of others around me who do so much better than I at an awful lot of stuff – in fact at most things. The whole concept is probably unnecessary, yet I still indulge in it. Guess there’s some room for growth here!
The word ‘unique’ feels so very much better, Mary Kay! My particular combination of skills is decidedly that!