How do you feel about the word and definition of mediocrity? One translation of the word is: a state of mediocre ability. Do you think you fall into a mediocrity box? If that answer is a no, good. Keep doing what you’re doing and give yourself grace and peace with it.
If yes, do you hate living in the mediocre mindset but still haven’t been honest with yourself that that’s where you’ve been? Accountability is our biggest partner and without it, growth and advancement out of mediocrity cannot happen. Jump ahead to my most recent podcast episode on mediocrity if you’d rather listen than read.
Mediocrity comes in multiple points of reference.
Are you a mediocre boss? Just going through the motions of running a business at the bare minimum, never encouraging your employees to be their bests?
How about a mediocre employee? Skating by with your work just to say “done” and never really pushing yourself to work harder and to produce better work?
What about a mediocre friend or partner? Only showing up when it works for you?
Look at mediocrity as a limbo. Not quite excelling and yet not failing. Just...existing.
If you do fall within the mediocrity scale, the first step to changing and removing yourself from a said lifestyle is acknowledging it. Allow yourself the opportunity to truly evaluate where you are in your life and with your goals and be honest with how you’re feeling. Are you uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and feeling rejection and conflict--listen to those feelings and decide to grow from them and figure out a way to push through!
Begin journaling and auditing all of the things that you are allowing into and that are creating mediocrity in your life--if they don’t fit in with the vision you have for the life you want to live--let them GO!
Where do you want to grow from mediocrity? Record those points and also come up with a strategic game plan on how you will grow out of them and rise to the next level.
With every plateau of mediocrity comes a decision to change followed by actions on how to go about it.
Changes that you make do not need to be, nor should they be, large and abrupt. They can be gradual, small changes that accumulate over time. And truthfully, those changes will likely be the ones that last and develop.
Have you ever arrived to a situation that you wish were completely different and decided to flip it around only to notice the plan backfired within a couple of weeks or months? The same with will happen with growing from mediocrity and changing your approach if you try to do too much at once. Bite of small pieces to change at a time and eventually you will reach them all.
As you begin to notice the changes being made and the generalization of creating more time and self care for yourself, you will begin to feel better! And you will want to continue to advance and grow in all aspects--mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, and in your relationships.
The major point--don’t hold back. Be truthful with yourself on what you want to improve but also what you are proud of. You work hard, you strive to be a high performer in life and you have a lot to be proud of! Relish in the positive aspects that make you proud and be okay with the mediocre things that you wish to change.
For more details on mediocrity as well as some more in depth ways to grow from it, listen to the episode, “Mediocrity--Where Is It Showing Up In Your Life”, on my podcast, Change by Choice, by clicking here! The podcast is on both iTunes and Podcast Addict.
Thank you as always for tuning in and for always striving to live a life of joy and high performance! Remember, #EveryStoryMatters.
~Charlotte xo