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“You didn’t wake up today to be average!” - Alek Toussaint, instructor @onepeloton
Picture this: you wake up in the morning, stretch, and exclaim, "I am so ready to be mediocre today!" Hmmmm...does that sound like something you would actually do?
Probably not or at least I hope not.
But here's the thing... We all have those moments when we're not exactly kind to ourselves. When we let our inner bully whisper nasty things in our ear, making us feel downright lousy. Trust me, I've been there too, which is why I'm here to challenge you a bit.
Let's talk about the insidious creep of average. You know, those times when you dwell on someone's criticism, silence your own voice, settle for less, or buy into the lies your inner bully tells you. It's like you're inviting average to settle in and make itself at home. And boy, does it wreak havoc!
The more you embrace the average mindset, the more you see yourself as just average, and the more decisions you make that reinforce that belief. It's a vicious cycle that keeps repeating itself.
Now, here's a shout-out to our brains for their little negative bias trick. As Dr. Rick Hanson explains, our minds have this tendency to latch onto negative thoughts (like feeling average). It's a self-protective mechanism, but it doesn't mean we were born to be average. We choose to believe that lie.
By buying into this average narrative, we end up stuck in our comfort zones. We think we're avoiding rejection and failure, but really, we're missing out on incredible opportunities. We're blocking ourselves from unleashing our true, unstoppable potential.
But fear not! If you're ready to ditch the average label, I've got two fun experiments for you to try.
First, tune in to your self-talk. Our minds can't differentiate between fact and fiction, so they believe whatever we feed them. If you catch yourself saying some nasty things, hit the pause button and switch your focus. You don't have to transform the dialogue into rainbows and sunshine. The key is to halt the negative chatter and shift your attention to something that uplifts you. Personally, I find solace in snuggling with my adorable puppies. How can you not feel amazing in that moment?
Second, before you even step out of bed, ask yourself, "How do I want to show up today?" Let that question marinate for a moment, then pick one thing you're committed to doing that aligns with that intention. For instance, if you want to radiate positive energy, make a pledge to avoid negative conversations, steer clear of the news, stay off Facebook, get some fresh air, or nourish your body with healthy food.
Now, it's your turn to take action!
Grab a pen and paper, open your journal, or simply share your thoughts in the comment section below. Let's set some intentions together:
1. How do you want to show up today?
2. How do you want to feel? Dive deep and identify that emotion.
And now, let's support those intentions:
3. What's one thing you'll do to back up your desired way of showing up?
4. What brings about that fantastic feeling you've identified? Seek out those experiences!
Remember, my friend, average is a term best suited for describing height, not the incredible person you are.