Training: How To Keep From Meandering in Mediocrity

Famous philosophers and scientists of the ancient time have inspirational thoughts or words of wisdom that were etched throughout the arches of history, I also have one inspirational quote that had served as my life coaching principle over the years. I call it  “ebyisms”, a one liner quote that will linger in your thoughts and in your hearts. Simple as it may sound, it will allow you to reflect with the message it conveys, giving you an intrinsic motivation. It goes, “If your vocation ... is not a “vacation” ... then you’re destined to meander in mediocrity.”

Taking life's every plights with great efforts to surpass the boundaries of our existence is something that makes life worthwhile and essential. Simply, if we meander in mediocrity we will stagnate in one corner, no personal growth. We loose the drive to move forward and lack inspiration with the present state that we have.

Mediocrity comes from a root word mediocre defined in Rogets Thesaurus as  to be characterless, colorless, commonplace, dull, humdrum, indifferent, inferior, insignificant, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, second-rate, so-so, undistinguished, unexceptional, uninspired, vanilla.

Unfortunately, many are in the state of mediocrity. In fact records show that most first time heart attacks instances happen between 8am to 10am on Mondays. Why? These people do hate their jobs. Why? These people have been spending all their lives trying to make a living and amidst the sacrifices they have they see their dreams slipping away. Life is no longer enjoyed the way it should be. So they would rather die than go back to work! Come to think of it. How many people do you think in the world wake up excited, passionate, and happy about what their day holds for them? For some, everyday is a day of dread. What a nightmare!

Good for those folks who make excellence their goal, having their vocation not a vacation. They are people destined to meander in mediocrity. They have personal growth solutions as strive to pursue excellence, to be in the state of possessing qualities in an eminent degree; exalted merit; superiority in virtue. In pursuit of excellence they will have class, distinction, eminence, greatness, high quality, perfection, pre eminence, purity, quality, superbness, supremacy, virtue, and worth.

If contentment is one of the virtues the book of knowledge is teaching us, perhaps God, in his divine providence never created us for mediocrity as well. Pursuing excellence is giving value to the God given gift that we have and giving essence to our beings. It is a life coaching and self-help option not to settle for anything less.

Let us take an inspiring peak at the story of an elementary school teacher named Mrs. Thompson. Just like most teachers, she looked at all of her students on the very first day of school and told them that she loved them all the same. It was 5th grade class then. Basically Mrs. Thompson lied.  Action speaks louder than words. That was once evident with the hostile treatment a poor, untidy and limpy boy named Teddy Stoddard. Teddy was quite inferior with his classmates then. He didn’t play well with the other children. With his messy clothes, he seems needing constant bath. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually enjoy marking his papers with a broad red pen, making huge, bold X’s and then putting a big “F” at the top of his papers. She would teach him a thing or two.

Since then, Mrs. Thompson consistently receives a note from Teddy telling her she was the best teacher he ever had, first was when Teddy had finished high school and was third in his class. Next was when he had been through tough times and would soon graduate from college with honors.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D. One thing remained. The assurance that Mrs. Thompson remains the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

 The story doesn’t end there. There was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he’d met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.  Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, “Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.”

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, “Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.”

 When you pursue excellence not mediocrity, you’ll surely make a difference. Isn’t that what we are here for? My friends, life is worth living! Let's step higher to the ladder of success!

­