In recent weeks, I’ve made a conscious decision to only hang around people I feel good around. I’ve spent WAY TOO MANY YEARS trying to prove myself to people who were never going to approve of me anyway.
I ignore people who tell me to be realistic.
I ignore people who try to fix me.
I’m only allowing the good, supportive ones around. Man, it feels good!
Bad company corrupts good character. 1 Corinthians 15:33
The book Feeling Good has a chapter called “Dare to Be Average.” The idea is that many of us get caught in the perfectionist trap and since perfection is unattainable, it can mess you up emotionally/psychologically.
However, if you want to be an entrepreneur or an entertainer or something unique, you have to think big. You have to take risks and really go for it.
So, can these two ideas live in harmony?
I believe they can. You can’t be successful with big ideas if you’re holding on to perfectionism. That doesn’t mean that the successful aren’t susceptible to perfectionistic tendencies.
Many entrepreneurs struggle with bipolar disorder (manic and depressive states). However, when business goes bad, suicide is a real threat. We’ve all heard about execs who commit suicide when the business goes bust.
So, if you find yourself with some bipolor tendencies, but you’re afraid to address them b/c you’re afraid you’ll lose your creativity or your “edge,” know that you can still succeed without being on such a wild roller coaster.
Tapping into the strengths of the everyman, or the “average,” may indeed be a better way to cope with the constant changes involved with success rather than simply giving into the extremes. Knowing how to balance thinking big with the positive, stable qualities of the average is a quality worth pursuing and ultimately mastering. It won’t be easy, but it might be a life-saver.