Average. Amateur. Abysmal.

Random post #2

On being unapologetically average:

The thing about defending being average is, there's nothing to defend. Because that would mean we assume that there's something wrong with being average to begin with. What does it even mean to be average?

In a world where human constructs of excellence and standards of living are constantly being challenged, put aside and redefined, what does being an average person even mean?

Not all of us are gifted to excel at everything. Not all of us are bad at everything either.

The world we live in is one of big corporations, unfair distribution of wealth and unjust hierarchy. Our perceptions of strength and weakness are heavily influenced by our own prejudices. And the real question is, why should what anyone think of you matter?

Our ideas of success are different.

At what point do we decide that a certain person is successful? What gives us the right to brand someone as a failure?

A lot of us find ourselves caught up in a unending struggle against all kinds of odds. We care so much about what other people think of us to the point that we're no longer satisfied with who we are. It can't be denied that deep down the  desire to be appreciated and valued is something that's embedded in the human psyche.

We constantly seek approval of some kind. In fact, we crave it. We love being told that we're worth something,that our efforts and our opinions matter to someone.

There's nothing wrong with having lofty goals and high ambitions, nothing intrinsically wrong with wanting more out of life but the problem is that when you place the opinions of others about you above your own, you're bound to be let down. Its like literally setting yourself up for failure. A lot of us want to be seen as more than just normal. We hear about such extraordinary feats of achievement and we can't help wanting to know what that must feel like.

It doesn't sound like such a bad thing, wanting to carve a path that sets you apart. Its such a boost being told you're special and one of a kind. That you possess something that others don't. In a world of 7 billion people, some of us struggle to be unique,wanting to be more than just another whisper in the wind, desperately wanting our actions to echo out through eternity.

As glamorous as all of that sounds, that's just not how the world works.

Sure, making a conscious effort to improve yourself should be commended, but our obsession with wanting to stand out and above the rest stems from something far too selfish.

It's one thing to want to make a difference and help as many people as you can, to contribute to society for the betterment of other lives but its an entirely different thing when high achievement is pursued simply for the purpose of self gratification. And none of us are ever going to truly be happy if we keep comparing our lives with those of others. It is rightly said that "comparison is the thief of joy".

As Liam Neeson's character said in that old star wars movie: there's always a bigger fish

(pardon the cheesy movie reference. I couldn't resist)

I'd like to clarify that I wholeheartedly applaud the people who strive to better themselves, be it physically or mentally in an effort to realizing their true potential.

I'm just saying that it's unhealthy when the persistent need to do better is in a bid to outdo the next person. Your life isn't a race, and even  if it were we're all headed to the same place anyway. You can't let the way people view you get to you to the extent that it defines your own self worth. You don't need someone else  to tell you that you did a good job to feel good about yourself. We don't really need that kind of validation. Its superficial.

Maybe its about time we reflected on the things we ought to value. Maybe its time we told ourselves that its okay to be average.

Maybe genius is overrated.

Maybe its time we decided to celebrate our own mediocrity.

To quote John Green:

“And so we all matter - maybe less than a lot, but always more than none.”