Cease The Mediocrity March
Stop Now While You Can
Hi friends. Welcome to the YouTopian Journey. Today’s issue discusses why you must cease the mediocrity march.
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SLAVES TO MEDIOCRITY
“It's a disease. Nobody thinks or feels or cares any more; nobody gets excited or believes in anything except their own comfortable little God damn mediocrity.”-Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road
With all the talk of a free society, we certainly aren’t free.
Sure, we may be free to think as we desire, speak as we like, and pursue any course of action that we will.
But how many actually do? How many people are defining their own version of success? Forging their own path?
How many people truly live?
The sad fact is that most people do not.
Most people simply exist.
Why is this the case?
Because we have become slaves.
We are slaves to our superiors, providing reports and presentations and delivering data. Our only hope is that if we survive the long and grueling process, we too can give orders to those beneath us one day.
We are slaves to our luxury.
We must have the latest gadgets, live the best life, and show it off to the adoring masses. After all, the social media flex of poverty certainly won’t drive clicks and comments.
We are slaves to technology that won’t let us go. We are constantly scrolling, posting, and hoping that someone, anyone, will listen.
We are slaves to relationships, no matter how toxic they are. We remain friends with those we have outgrown, in a relationship that is nothing more than a series of transactions.
We are slaves to drama and an unending news cycle of absurdities.
We are slaves to the impending A.I. transformation of society, where no career and no task is safe.
Above all, we are slaves to mediocrity.
Hoping for the best.
Waiting it out.
Not stepping on anyone’s toes.
Not causing a scene.
Refusing to be difficult.
Following orders.
Celebrating requirements as they were triumphs.
Not going against the current.
“Swimming against the current is not idiotic if the waters are racing toward a waterfall.”-Nicolás Gómez Dávila, Escolios a un texto implicito: Seleccion
Playing it safe on our march to mediocrity.
This stifles the human spirit. This is damaging to the human mind. This is demoralizing to the human soul.
Understand that you have legitimate goals and dreams. But when you share these goals and dreams with your friends and family, they are met with suspicion and doubt.
Of course, they just want the best for you.
They don’t want to see you hurt.
Yet the cure for the pain is in the pain.
You can remain still and remain mediocre. The only pain you will feel will be inside. No treatment or cure will be able to help you. But you will be safe.
Or you can take the rough path, the dangerous road, and become a target. That pain is more public and more pressing, but the dangerous life is the chance for success.
The dangerous life is one that leads to the heights of greatness. But only you can reach those heights. Only you can break free and go forward.
Do not expect support.
Do not rely on anyone but yourself.
It will be difficult.
But it will be worth it.
"The more stupid and mediocre the masses, the more mercilessly do they persecute those who are simple enough to strive to mitigate their mediocrity and stupidity"-Charles Richet, The Follies of Mankind
BREAK FREE
“The difference between genius and mediocrity is that genius looks at work through a telescope, mediocrity through a microscope; the one sees only possibilities, the other sees only limitations.”-Edward E. Purinton, Efficient Living.
How does one break free from the chains of mediocrity? How does one cease the mediocrity march?
By endeavoring to do so. By taking a stand.
By looking to society and saying it can go to hell, I am doing my own thing.
I am going my own way.
Comments and opinions be damned, I have a goal to accomplish and I am going after it.
It is that easy and that difficult.
It requires stepping out of your comfort zone. Taking chances. Experimenting with new things.
And expecting opposition.
Because believe me, there will be opposition.
Supporters will not rush to your aid. They will belittle your efforts, question your judgement, and remain on the sidelines until they can see which way the tide is turning. Only when victory is a possibility and success is evident will they run to you with praise.
It sucks but this is how it is.
“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”-Albert Einstein
Are you able to accept such conditions?
Will you be able to push past the thoughts and opinions of others?
Do you have the courage to step forward when the rest of the world is standing still?
Do you have the grit to remain on your dangerous course when everyone else beckons you from a safe harbor?
That is what is required.
Difficult, yes, but mandatory.
Make it happen.
“For what purpose humanity is there should not even concern us: why you are there, that you should ask yourself: and if you have no ready answer, then set for yourself goals, high and noble goals, and perish in pursuit of them! I know of no better life purpose than to perish in attempting the great and the impossible.” -Nietzsche
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Trust me.
Shaun
To avoid enemies, say nothing; to avoid critics, do nothing; to avoid haters, be nothing; but to avoid mediocrity, ignore all.
"the cure for the pain is in the pain."
Great article Shaun!
The path towards your destiny is usually a hard one. But the price of not following it is too great.