What mediocrity really means and why avoiding it is our true north.

The word "limitation" somehow doesn't really exist in humanity. It is like a glimpse of a boundary that we only recognize if we visibly see it in our own naked eyes if it is we, who are giving the living testimony as a man on earth that such thing will not be done. However, limitations are considered not very serious things to us because some believe that there is no such word. It is more likely a thing that "won't be" or "shouldn't be" rather than "can't be".

That's why some people have this distinct mindset that has been molded, inherited, or taught us all over the years; to not just limit ourselves within the boundaries and this so-called "don't settle for mediocrity". We have been lectured that we are creatures made for more, to aim for more and be more. "Do not settle for mediocrity, it is for the weak people. Do not settle for mediocrity, it is for those who are "playing safe" in the society. Do not settle for mediocrity because…just don't, that's it."

Mediocrity and limitations lie on the same page, to tell us what we are capable of, to remind us what lines we must not go through, to cage us, to settle for what we have, to be the just US. Mediocrity, for some people, is a nice place to stay, like nicely ironed clothing, no crumbles on the surface, no worries towards the unnecessary matters in life. If there may be, just little not as complex of scrabbled puzzle pieces. Mediocrity means having peace and stability oneself. Mediocrity is easy.

That's the point instead that should be argued, that mediocrity should be illegal to put on for it represents that people should be contented in what they supposed to, to allow themselves to settle for the less. It serves as the shelter of the cowards that will eventually turn those who bring headaches to humanity. It fosters the fear for every individual towards facing the unrealistic perfections of life.

Settling for mediocrity means staying in accordance with your limitations. Limiting yourself means staying in mediocrity. Being in mediocrity means being in your comfort zone, not willing to take risks, not willing to embrace the harmonious ups and downs of life. Choosing mediocrity in life means allowing self to be paralyzed with fear of doubtfulness. Mediocrity is not about being safe towards the shaky grounds of life, it is insanity and stupidity ruling over humanity.

Exploring things beyond our circles does not entirely cause us to be put on our deathbeds, except when taking the meaning of mediocrity at a higher level. It is not about ditching our partners to look for another because having only one is on a mediocre level. It is not about doing crimes because following rules is at a mediocrity level. Seeking the essence of things sometimes brings us to unexpected paths in life. In internalizing that man deserves more, man becomes greedier towards times. Because we have been shaped that man is more, we want more in everything instead. We tend to have this little voice in our head to tell us that this is not enough and we interpret it as owning more beyond enough because having more is beyond mediocrity. No, stepping out from mediocrity does not mean being against what the norms have told us to be. It does not entail that we have to make ourselves to be the bad guys of the society for the good ones are the mediocre ones. Not settling in mediocrity just wants to tell us to have room for opportunities, to have space towards discovery.

To have a different point of view of mediocrity, let me discuss its advantages and disadvantages. There are views that having a mediocrity life is good and normal. By being mediocre, you are more likely to be happy. By being mediocre you have a wider range for achieving something that is "beyond" what others typically expect of you (or even you yourself). Having a lower threshold for achieving more probably means you'll be crossing that threshold more often or at least more easily and thus be more likely to be happy with yourself. Also, by being mediocre, you seem to have the best knowledge of people ahead and behind. You hold the highest population on both sides. You are the happiest among all. You have the best balance in every department of life.

In contrast to its advantages, there are also views that suggest that having a mediocrity life is not worthy at all. They believe that having a mediocrity life is a waste of time because you didn’t in fact learn anything. You just did something because it had to be done. This is doing the bare minimum as well. Also, you are not that productive on things because you are more settling for less. You are not competitive and you are not more on taking opportunities because you are more settled on what you can only do with your potentials and didn’t even trying anything new that might be developing to become a better person.

It is not the end of the world when someone settles for mediocrity, the same goes for reaching for more too. It's just the chances of trying foreign feelings in life are not always constant and available in this journey. The wheel of life goes on and on and you should have to, unless you want to be left alone with the regrets of a bruised self, wishing to take back time to try again.

Mediocrity should be escaped as earlier as possible before it becomes to be a habit to live with for it would be very hard to sneak out if one already attaches oneself to it. It was not a place man was made for, it's just the snap of how tranquility of life can be and it can be more than that if you keep in pursuing. The potential of mankind is ready to be recognized and one step towards it is if you allow it to take the role in you and make it have a move in our lives, not be stagnant in one area, because the moment we settle towards it is like letting ourselves, our dreams, our humanity, to be limited as well.

All images are from Pixabay, except the cover image.