I hear and read a lot about this concept in personal development. It’s not new. You can find pages of quotes on mediocrity on the internet.
Here are just a few…
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. Author: Joseph Heller
We must overcome the notion that we must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre. Author: Uta Hagen
A steady salary is an invitation to mediocrity. Author: Anonymous
I love these quotes because on the right day they move us act righteously and take risks, feel more deeply and focus more intently. I hate these quotes because on a bad day, they punish us for relapsing, regressing, questioning our direction, second guessing ourselves, watching television and taking naps.
I read these quotes and think, “Am I what you would call ‘mediocre’?” I don’t feel mediocre. In fact, I think I’m fantastic. But, then again, my salary could be considered mediocre. Add to that, my yoga practice. I only practice twice a week. And it’s probably a sign of mediocrity that I eat microwaved leftovers at my desk over lunch hour. The fact that I even have to clock in at all is a bad sign.
Damn. Maybe Uta Hagen would have called me mediocre.
I recently left a relationship that only permitted me to envision my future within a framework of mediocrity. I recently met someone else who assisted in restoring my sightlines to encompass much grander landscapes.
I always remind myself that there are No Regrets, so when I started to regret the fact that I spent the last three years of my life with someone whose monstrous true self was hidden behind clouds of marijuana smoke, I vowed to my crying eyes in the mirror that I wouldn’t waste anymore of my precious, precious time. Which, naturally, led me to question my relationship to my job. Which, against the advice of a smart friend, I voiced to my employers.
From their point of view, quitting without ever trying to succeed is a mediocre move. (One of them even suggested I look at my pattern of boyfriends and figure out why I can’t commit to something for more than a couple years before I run.) In my opinion, perhaps the weaker move would be to build a career on the foundation of a mild to moderate interest in the industry where I am to leave a mark and take a large commission check.
Here are just a few…
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. Author: Joseph Heller
We must overcome the notion that we must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre. Author: Uta Hagen
A steady salary is an invitation to mediocrity. Author: Anonymous
I love these quotes because on the right day they move us act righteously and take risks, feel more deeply and focus more intently. I hate these quotes because on a bad day, they punish us for relapsing, regressing, questioning our direction, second guessing ourselves, watching television and taking naps.
I read these quotes and think, “Am I what you would call ‘mediocre’?” I don’t feel mediocre. In fact, I think I’m fantastic. But, then again, my salary could be considered mediocre. Add to that, my yoga practice. I only practice twice a week. And it’s probably a sign of mediocrity that I eat microwaved leftovers at my desk over lunch hour. The fact that I even have to clock in at all is a bad sign.
Damn. Maybe Uta Hagen would have called me mediocre.
I recently left a relationship that only permitted me to envision my future within a framework of mediocrity. I recently met someone else who assisted in restoring my sightlines to encompass much grander landscapes.
I always remind myself that there are No Regrets, so when I started to regret the fact that I spent the last three years of my life with someone whose monstrous true self was hidden behind clouds of marijuana smoke, I vowed to my crying eyes in the mirror that I wouldn’t waste anymore of my precious, precious time. Which, naturally, led me to question my relationship to my job. Which, against the advice of a smart friend, I voiced to my employers.
From their point of view, quitting without ever trying to succeed is a mediocre move. (One of them even suggested I look at my pattern of boyfriends and figure out why I can’t commit to something for more than a couple years before I run.) In my opinion, perhaps the weaker move would be to build a career on the foundation of a mild to moderate interest in the industry where I am to leave a mark and take a large commission check.
So, once again my Renaissance Soul is reeling, confused and tripping over itself, juggling the options, the input from outsiders, and my inner voice that has yet to learn to speak audibly.
When I feel bad, I turn to Joni Mitchell, because she makes feeling bad seem poetic and archetypal. Was Joni Mitchell mediocre? It would be a challenge to find someone who would answer in the affirmative. Yet, here’s one of her personal lyrics:
Dora says, “Have children.”
Mama and Betsy say, “Find yourself a charity.
Help the needy and the crippled.
Or put some time into ecology.”
Well, there’s a wide, wide world
Of noble causes
And lovely landscapes
To discover
But all I really want
To do right now is
Find another lover.
Sounds like a half-assed goal to me. But, it only makes me question when all these celebrities and philosophers are railing against a general mediocrity, do they even know what they’re talking about? Calling someone mediocre is like calling someone ugly. First, it’s in the eye of the beholder and second, one ugly person is nothing like the next ugly person. It’s truly a personal thing.
If I had to choose one quotation about mediocrity that makes sense in every way it would be the quote by Roberto Begnini “To express gratitude in moderation is a sure sign of mediocrity”. And that is the yardstick I feel comfortable measuring myself against.
