You have competition every day
because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every
day and live up to that.
Michael
Jordan
The last few weeks, we have seen
social media buzzing with the wonders of the “Dad-Body” as the new fad in male
body types. In most cases, I usually ignore internet fads, as they tend to be
as relevant as they are permanent. Yet in this case, I found it more amusing
than ever, as this fad in particular, and its resulting discussion, placed yet
again the limelight on an aspect of society that has grown within social media’s
ability to give the masses a voice;
The Cult to Average and the Persecution of Excellence.
The cult of Average is this idea
that we are all good enough. And that’s true, we are. We see it in every
aspect, ranging from beauty to intelligence, from financial success to physical
fitness. It’s the idea that we are perfect just as we are, and there is no real
need to try to be better. It gets to the point where people expect applause and
adulation simply for resisting the need to be better! And that’s where it gets really
messed up.
In an attempt to resist the “social pressures”
to be better, they will condemn anyone who chooses to be better. We see this
when in our discourse of “all bodies are beautiful” the follow up is basically “except
those who make an effort to look good. They deserve our hate.” The same goes into every other aspect. We
need to demonize anyone who’s successful, anyone who looks good, anyone who’s
educated, and the list goes on. We see it in the generalized idea that anyone
with physical beauty or fitness must be a narcissist, that genius is
accompanied by arrogance or that financial success can only be achieved by
having no moral standards.
The amazing thing about this social
condemnation of excellence is how being above average is only acceptable when
it comes accompanied with acceptable flaws, as if the flaws compensate for the
additional efforts of the person. We see it in the socially awkward genius, or the
dumb, but lovable, jock, or the clumsy beauty.
All of these negative aspects are
assigned to excellence because excellence exposes the averageness of others.
Nobody is born in excellence, that’s the result of discipline, dedication, and
a lot of effort. The problem is that the same people who profess not being
superficial only see the superficial picture. They neither see nor care to see
the work that lead to excellence. It’s easy to assume that beauty, physical
fitness, or intelligence is only the result of genetics or that artistic or
athletic skills are the result of natural talent, or that financial success is
the result of getting an inheritance. This attitude only serves as an excuse to
minimize the work and effort of those who achieve excellence.
Genetics, natural talent, and, even
to a degree, inheritance only benefit you at the starting point. What counts is
what you do with what you have. That’s what determines how far you can go. Let’s
stop celebrating averageness as the best we can achieve as individuals. Stop
assuming that the limitations society places on you are the highest standards
you deserve to put on yourself. Effort, discipline, and self-sacrifice will always
trump the small minds and insecurities of others.
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