Trying to outrun a team
Selecting a title for today's blog post wasn't easy and the fight probably deserves its own post next week. George wants to name it How to outrun a team and I suspect him - in addition to encouraging you - of also wanting to sell a line of nutritional supplements to of course help you.
Have you ever tried to outrun a team? Probably not, it sounds “naive” (trying to express the futility in a more romantic nuance, you're welcome) and yet, I feel like subconsciously we often aim at exactly that.
I had a moment of doubt of evaluating my own strengths and abilities this week. At least, that's how it feels in the moment. Looking back, I wasn't focused on my own strengths and abilities at all and instead on the gaps to the perceived strengths of selected (!) individuals. Basically, how much I lack compared to selected individuals.
Oh and you lack a lot there, we both know it. You can admit it to the reader, no one will blame you!
Thank you, George, not now, I am trying to make a point here. Be a nice little self-talk and stay quiet for a while.
We all compare ourselves with others, survival instincts and all. But I claim to say we do it in certain situations and we are less selective (!) about it. Well then get to your point now, the reader is already annoyed by that exclamation mark. I was getting there now, thank you. For each skill, we select a point of reference and it's commonly the most capable person we can find: “Why am I not as strong as [the strongest person in the room] and why am I not as clever as [the most clever person in the group] and could I at least be as beautiful as [the absolute stunning beauty over there, on the definitely not photoshopped cover of a magazine aiming at selling you creams and lotions] ??? :'( “
We concoct a game we can't win, a game – ironically – not even our points of refence could win. Ok, the cover beauty could be the strongest or most clever but probably not both at the same time and equally unparalleled in big data programming, scuba diving, and macramé. You can at least try! Where's your ambition? You've got nothing to lose but losing itself. Yes, George, I know your agenda. How is that line of nutritional supplements and Zoom masterclasses turning out?
I'm not against aiming and growing, I'm not against striving for something your heart burns for. But trying to achieve “Universe #1 in totally everything” written on your morning coffee mug must fail and the futility will hurt you. And... paralyse you before you have even started, because: Where to start? Where to start everything? Tough call prioritising, I reckon.
But enough, I'm walking into George's trap again, talking about “How to not achieve it” instead of asking the “Why even trying”, the “What is even wrong”? We walked into the trap of “not the best” must equal “bad”... Please keep walking, there's nothing to see or learn hear, why not go the gym, look at people fitter than you!! ...and I get the survival instinct of being the best... but let me state the obvious:
Not being the best in everything simultaneously does not make you the bottom of the bucket.
Hell, not being the best in anything doesn't automatically make you the bottom of the bucket! Do you consider an Olympic silver medallist at the bottom? (If you do, please get help.)
You are probably the best in one thing: Being yourself. And if being yourself entails incredible skills in a specific discipline your heart burns for, congratulations! And if being yourself entails still looking for that passion, being a “jack of all trades” (definitely a compliment to your versatility, don't let anyone tell you otherwise), then congratulations and good luck! You'll find it.
As long as we are alive, we are still on the road, learning, striving, not having reached the end yet. How you perceive the road ahead, if you allow it to motivate or sadden you, is up to your own storytelling.
Next post:“How to put it into a frame” Last post: “Only as old as you feel”