It’s Okay to Feel Mediocre

Mediocrity isn’t something to fear. It’s something we all encounter in our lives and we’re not weird or negatively unique because of it.

The past few months have been a time of humbling growth. When you try new things, whether a role at work, a new type of project, or a new hobby, you’re (very likely) going to experience a whopping dose of humility.

You’ll likely wonder why you took on that project to begin with and the temptation to bolt is nearly enough to take over. Mediocrity is a sucky feeling most of the time. And yes, that’s my chosen term and I’m sticking with it.

But it doesn’t have to remain a negative experience. Feeling mediocre means you’re growing beyond what you excel at to try new experiences. Feeling like you’re constantly flailing is a part of living an exceptionally creative and experimental life. It’s completely normal to feel like this, but dwelling on it doesn’t help us reach our own beautifully unique potential.

Author Nelson Boswell offers a near-perfect insight into mediocrity: “The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views a mistake.” If you let mistakes derail your goals, you’re going to risk living a mediocre life.