That sense of euphoria from winning a trophy. The rush of winning first place. Being the best feels good. This is why you focus on being extraordinary. And why you may have a fear of being average.
Yet if you allow yourself to be inspired by this fear, you can achieve great things. But you must first understand this fear to move past it.
That said, in this article, we'll discuss what this fear is, why people feel it and how to be inspired by the fear of being average!
What is the fear of being average?
The fear of being average is the desire to see yourself as better than average or above the norm. This anxiety can stem from the worry that living an ordinary life means you're missing out on something. This could imply that an above-average life is like riding a rollercoaster, and simple life is like riding the Ferris Wheel.
Yet being average is normal. It's healthy to be average weight for your age and height. Still, thinking of yourself as average would mean that you're not special. Average is boring, from some perspectives, and because of this perception, you fear being average.
Why do people have a fear of being average?
Throughout your life, you may have received an award for doing better than the majority. For example, winning a scholarship or being an employee of the month, you know that good things come to those who are great. Society praises excellence and degrades the rest.
A prime example is the dozens of motivational speakers teaching you that an average life doesn't equal your dream life. If you want your dreams to come true, you have to be exceptional. Otherwise, you’re failing.
However, you can use the fear of being average to inspire you! Let's look at ways you can harness this fear as inspiration.
4 Key ways to be inspired by the fear of being average
Although fear is a good motivator, it shouldn’t be your only motivation. Think of fear as lighting a match. The flame burns bright for a short time and then burns out. Fear helps you start, but it won't sustain you.
Fear often leads to becoming stressed. Stress leads you further from your goals. However, you can be motivated by the fear of being average instead of overwhelmed by it. Here are four ways how to use the fear of being average as motivation!
1. Define what average means to you
Edmund Gaudet defines average as the lazy person’s cop-out. He says that average is not having the guts to take a stand-in life and living by default. As brutal as this definition is, you can choose to agree or disagree with it.
Instead, what does average mean in regards to your life? Remember, your unique average will vary depending on your lifestyle, body type, environment, and other factors.
For example, the spending average for someone who makes $100,000 a year is different from someone who makes $30,000 a year. So remember to use this inspiration to be the best you can be without comparing yourself to others.
2. Use the fear of being average to live your best life
Living a non-average life doesn’t mean you’re living your best life. To do so, think about what living your best life looks like and how you can be the person that lives that life. How can you be the best version of yourself?
It's not always about what you want to do. For example, buying fancy clothes or taking a big trip. Instead, it's about who you want to be. Say that your best life means you are happy.
How can you be a person that is happy? As a joyful person, you won't dwell on the negative. You will seek experiences and people that make you smile and laugh. You practice gratitude and appreciate the little things.
This may mean making a shift in your mindset. You can do this by reading inspirational books and practicing positive affirmations.
So you can use the fear of being average to motivate you to create the life you always wanted and be the person you want to be!
3. Use it to find your life's purpose
You can get inspired by the fear of being average and find your life's purpose. Living life with intentionality is one way to break away from monotony. An intentional life means you aren't just letting life happen to you. You're finding your purpose.
Your life's purpose is often tied to your unique talents. What is something you do naturally? The thing you can spend hours doing. Your special skills are the arrows pointing you in the direction of life's purpose.
Whether you're great at solving problems or are amazing at drawing, your gifts can make the world a better place. And if you don't know what you're good at, just start off by being curious.
If you've tried cooking and burned your first meal, but loved the process, keep at it. Because sometimes the purpose of life is to do what you love. So get motivated by the fear of being average to acquire a more fulfilling life!
4. Find a role model that inspires you
Role models not only set the example, but they can help guide you on your path to success. It’s important to find a role model you can relate to. Someone who shares your values and has achieved the success you crave.
Role models such as Malala Yousafzai, Tarana Burke, and Toni Morrison are great examples to follow. These phenomenal women embody the concept of persistence as they've overcome intense hardships in order to speak their truths.
Not only that, before they had fame and success, they were just average people. Yousafzai was a normal school girl before she became a worldwide symbol of courage. Burke was a community activist who led the nationwide " Me too" movement.
Morrison was a writer who went on to tell stories that impacted generations. These women were motivated by the fear of being average. They all had a choice to accept their negative circumstances and become another statistic. Yet they pushed forward to make a change, and so can you!
Why average is ok sometimes
Now, you know how to be inspired by the fear of being average. The next step is to come to terms with being average in some areas of your life. Remember, average is not a final destination.
Being average doesn't mean it's your final destination
You can start being average in one area of your life and advance to excellence. You can start out learning swimming strokes but end up competing professionally. You could enjoy reading a few books a year and one day pursue becoming a published author. You could love casually playing video games and one day become a video game creator. You get to decide what you want to be intentional about mastering!
We are all average at most things
To be great at something requires a large amount of time and energy. This means you’ll be great at one thing and average at something else. That’s ok. You chose what you want to master or the areas you want to excel in. Don't overwhelm yourself trying to master everything.
Being average can mean a healthy lifestyle
In addition, average helps maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating three balanced meals a day, and getting eight hours of sleep are common and average activities that bring balance into your life. And when it comes to maintaining that healthy achieving balance is essential.
So yes, get inspired by the fear of being average to become better, but remember, sometimes average is okay!
Get inspired by the fear of being average and become who you want to be!
They say that your dreams are located on the other side of your fears. Sometimes we are afraid of falling short of our expectations. We’re fearful of falling into the middle of the bell curve.
Or the flip side, we push our limits to stay above the average. Yet, when we direct our focus on the life we want to create, things become less scary. Focus on what inspires you. Do what sets your soul on fire.
And when you start to be afraid that you're just like everyone else, be motivated by the fear of being average. Take action towards your dreams.