There are people who’ve lived for decades and have barely, if ever, traveled beyond the borders of their state or province. They have no need, real or perceived, to venture farther. We’ve all seen the forty-year-old man who dresses every day the same as when he was sixteen. That’s who he believes he’s meant to be. Millions of literate people go years without reading a single book. And none of that is a problem if those people like what they’re getting out of life. Not everyone aspires to grow and excel, and that’s okay.

When it comes to beliefs about personal growth, we can divide mankind into two groups. The first group believes they’re more or less good enough as they are. They’re content with or resigned to being—well, average. The second group believes they’re supposed to be continually growing. They obsessively seek higher levels of awareness, understanding, and achievement. If you guessed that the first group is vastly larger than the second, you’re right. The question for you is: which group do you really belong to? 

“Really” is the operative word. It doesn’t matter what people are apt to say when asked which group they belong to, because many who would claim they believe in continual growth do little to demonstrate it. Saying and doing are not the same thing, and ultimately, what someone really believes about their hunger and capacity to grow is evident from how they spend their time. It’s what I call a person’s growth paradigm. Earl Nightingale was telling it like it is when he proclaimed that 95 percent of people are stuck leading mediocre lives. It seems to be an unchanging truth.

Overcoming stagnation can be one of the biggest challenges of your life, especially once your youth is behind you. The more time passes, the more it seems as though life is what it is. And if you don’t believe you deserve more out of life, you won’t get it because your heart won’t be deeply invested in trying. But if you’re not okay with being average, I want you to know that you can pursue a new level and become a better version of yourself. You just need to think about things you can do now and then start doing them.

I spend a lot of time every day thinking about how I can grow because I know that I’m still not the best I can be. In fact, it’s one of my favorite things to think about. I believe I can broaden my knowledge, improve my body and emotional control, increase my wealth, and deepen my sense of purpose. That’s what being the total package is about. But more importantly, my belief compels me to continually follow through with my actions.

I’m not there yet, but I’m always working at it. Some things go well, and some things fall flat. What I can promise you is that nothing works better than action. In fact, you cannot upgrade your life without it. No effort is wasted as long as you’re learning something that helps you grow into the person you know you can be.

You want to look and feel better? Then get yourself in shape. Be mindful of what and how much you eat and drink.

You want to get better at conversation? Then spend some money on books and read—audiobooks count too. Put yourself in the company of smart people and be a good listener.

You want to be more disciplined? Then put down the TV remote. Rethink the ways you spend your time and set more purposeful priorities.

If you feel the gravity of mediocrity pulling you down, don’t just let the feeling fester. Identify some habits and aspects of your character you can upgrade. Be hungry to become more. Then start working at it.

Sayonara until next time.

Be The Total Package eBook – Bounce Pep

*Pep Talk has not been authored in whole or in part by any artificial intelligence tools.