WHAT IS A MEDIOCRE MINDSET?
Mediocre ‘of only average quality; not very good.’
To me, the middle-class mentality is the epitome of mediocrity.
Everyone defines mediocrity differently. However, to me, mediocrity is a lazy mindset that settles for average and looks down on those who have less than them. Mediocrity is people who are fluent in academic teachings and believe every social construct we have been taught as children is true, like some sort of religious cult. Mediocrity is people who have been taught a standard way of life and never think to challenge it. To me, mediocrity epitomises the middle-class mindset.
People think rich people look down on the poor; I think the middle class look down on anyone who has less or challenges the status quo the most. Middle-class mindset is the keeping up with the Jones mentality. What postcode do you live in? What model car do you have? What private school did you go to? What is your salary? What is your university degree? Who are your friends? What new designer bag do you have? It's a very closed-minded and preprogrammed attitude that becomes indoctrinated through school and robotic parenting.
I have never been interested in the latest cars or fancy postcodes; instead, I crave safe neighbourhoods, unique architecture and the freedom to explore somewhere new when I become bored or stressed. Everything else is irrelevant to me. The same goes for private schools and uni degrees; I attended a private school and HATED IT. The middle-class mindset was everywhere, and the false sense of entitlement that followed repulsed me to the core. I found the false sense of entitlement that followed from private school nauseating. The stimuli at university were rather commonsensical to me. Two institutions I rejected and saw right through, consequently I was the odd one out.
Your average person will forever be indebted to mediocrity as they keep up with the Joneses and take a ‘safer’ pathway in life. The university is, in many ways, safe; starting a business is not so safe. Guaranteed income is safe; hustling to make income or create a new career path is not so safe. Taking risks and thinking outside of the box is typically frowned upon by most people within our society. At first, these people may seem to win financially and socially until the risk taker delivers results and overrules the mediocre mindset of chasing a salary. To be clear, a 9-5 job you love will never be mediocre. A 9-5 job you hate is. When you love what you do, you are fulfilling your soul's purpose; when you are stuck on a repetitive cycle of hating what you do, that is where the issues lie. Most people get safe degrees, follow safe career paths, and end up hating what they do for eternity, wondering why they feel so stuck in a life they hate. The true winners of the social construct are the ones who break it down, reject its rules, risk take and follow what fulfils them despite public opinion. A conventional path will reap conventional rewards. A risky path will reap far greater rewards (after a few failed attempts) if you are willing to risk it all in the name of self-fulfilment.
To me, mediocrity is living a life you hate and settling down with someone you feel comfortable with but do not feel passionate about. To me, mediocrity is looking down at Uber Eats drivers delivering your meals and thinking you are better than them while being too lazy to cook at home. To me, mediocrity is following a social construct, news outlets, and public opinion and never challenging it. To me, mediocrity is the middle-class mindset of settling but never striving to be or have more. A fancy house in a nice neighbourhood does not make you rich. A car loan on a new Mercedes does not make you special; A university degree doesn’t make you smart, and being unwilling to challenge the status quo doesn’t make you as desirable as you may think.
Mediocrity is a lack of mindset that prevents people from wanting and achieving more in life. At the core of mediocrity is an unwillingness to take risks and a fear of being different. Elements of insecurity and unworthiness may cause you to judge others who have less than them, and an inability to stand up for what you believe in may cause you to settle and suffer.
To overcome this mediocre mindset, we must first be aware of our thoughts and challenge them. Challenge the judgmental voice in your head and question its validity. Challenge the lack mindset with gratitude practices and become grateful for the beautiful life you now have. Everything you want is within your reach; however, you must break down the social constructs within your head and create new ones for you to follow. The difference between you and your best life is your mind; challenge it, battle it and rewrite it to become your superior self. Mediocrity is a mindset, so change it!
Love, Chiara x