The Myth of Mediocrity
Although nobody will actually admit it, the message sent by the masses is that mediocrity should be your goal. We see it all the time. Someone assumes you can't do something because they failed at that very same thing. We even doubt ourselves because we are unsure or because someone "who knows better" told us that it couldn't be done. The reality is that most people can achieve more than they know.
Too Old, Too Hard, Too Much
This is what most people would like you to believe. I heard this from most of my friends and even from some people in my family when I first decided to compete in bodybuilding. I heard it from my doctor and from my boss when I said that I would work through my back injury without surgery. And I heard it again from various people when I decided to start competing in powerlifting after my back injury. And guess what? They were all wrong.
I finally came to the conclusion that people tell you You Can't not because they doubt you, but because they really doubt themselves. There's something very human about projecting doubt onto someone else. Recognize that and understand that their shortcomings are not necessarily your own.
You Are Not Superman
I don't believe that you should ever let other people's failures or shortcomings dictate what or how much you can achieve. But we are human and we do have limits. I will never be 230lbs and ripped without a ton of PEDs (which won't happen) and I will never run a 2min mile or flap my arms and fly.
But I could become a pro natural bodybuilder. I could bench press over 400lbs and squat over 600lbs. I could increase my contest weight by 10lbs. And I could do all of that in my 30's, even with my (seemingly ever-growing) injuries. None of those things are easy. And some of them almost seem out of reach. But they are possible. Persistence and self-belief will make them a reality.
The take away here is that it's a fools errand to try to do the impossible. But there's nothing wrong with extending your definition of what is possible for you by reaching a little further. We all have limits. Just make sure yours aren't self imposed.
Reach a Little Further
Where you are today is just that. Maybe you can't run as fast as you'd like or lift as much as you want. Maybe you aren't as lean as you'd like to be or as muscular as you want to be. Instead of looking at some muscle mag ad and setting your sights on being the next Phil Health, try reaching just a little further.
All the progress I've ever made has come slowly and at the disbelief of many. But every bit of it came from my belief that I could do just a little more and be just a little better than yesterday. Day by day, that belief became a reality. And now that's still what pushes me forward: be better than yesterday.
I've been called a cheater, a lair, and a closet steroid user. I've been told that I have superior genetics, god given strength, etc. But it's all been a very slow, natural progression built on top of hard work. And the reality is that given the time and discipline, many people could achieve what I have done and more, without drugs or anything of the sort. But that's not what the nay-sayers want to hear. Because that would mean the only reason why they can't have the same or better is because they didn't try hard enough, long enough or consistently enough. It's a sad reality. But there it is.
The Other Human Condition
It may be natural for humans to cast doubt on one another. But it's also natural for us to push past our own limits. Years ago the 4-min mile was thought to be unattainable. Now, many have surpassed this seemingly unconquerable obstacle. Similarly, strength records have been broken and skills have been refined and improved upon.
If you can reach past the masses' desire to embrace mediocrity, then maybe you can find that other very human condition: a desire for excellence. I'm not talking about necessarily being the best in some sport or field. I'm talking about improving and believing that you can keep improving. Reach for the seemingly impossible. And know that what may have been impossible for you yesterday, may not be so tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment