The Case of the Average

I was listening to a talk during the weekend when it was mentioned that one should do something (I cannot remember which part of the talk this is) for him/ her to reach his/her best self. The reason I did not remember what that something was because my mind got stuck with the idea of developing into our best selves.

I had this seemingly dumb question looming over my head – one can never go wrong with trying to achieve the best, but why? Why do I need to develop into my best version? Is not my current version enough?

I am happy. I am contented. I seem to have everything I need. Why do I need to go beyond the good and the better version of me?

Is good enough not good enough? And like the detail maniac that I am, I racked my brain with reasons why:

1. Because why settle?
2. Because I hate wastage. I am already putting in time, effort, and resources. Why waste the effort by only giving it your good?
3. Because good is only a step away from bad, actually
4. Because honestly, I’d rather die trying than die with my what-ifs

I’ve learned that really, there’s nothing wrong with the average, but there is nothing exceptional about it, though. Why do we tend to choose the average, then?

1. It’s easy.
2. Giving it your best can be tiring. But would giving it your good enough make it less tiring?
3. We sometimes feel like we have no choice. We do not have enough to go beyond the good enough. We choose what is presented to us, thinking that there is nothing beyond the box we confine ourselves into.
4. I can just be plain lazy.

They say you need to start with the end in mind. And if I do think of the end, I think of the absolute end of my existence. When I die, whether I die at 30, or whether I reach 90, there is a longer time I want to secure – eternity.

If doing my best and reaching my best self is one way of securing my eternity in heaven, would I then not risk it all? Yes, average is good; but eternity does not recognize the average. The choice is yours.