BZZZ BZZZ BZZZ!! It’s 6:30am, you roll over and hit the snooze button like it was throwing insults. Eventually, you stumble out to the kitchen and get some coffee brewing while you get ready for another day at work. You grab your coffee and you’re out the door and ready for an hour of traffic. You get to work, put in your 8, 9, 12 hours of unenthusiastic work and head back home with another hour of traffic. Make some dinner, watch a little TV, spend some time with family and/or friends and it’s off to bed to start another day. Does any of this sound vaguely familiar? Doesn’t it sound just a little mundane?
Did you know that according to Forbes magazine, 70% of people dislike their jobs? Why is it that many of us continue work we don’t enjoy? Most likely because people feel more safe and secure with the job they have. I believe the simple answer to be based on… Fear.
First – A reality check
What does it mean to be unhappy? 70% of people are unhappy with their jobs alone. Take into account everything else in life and you’ll probably find quite a number of unhappy people. But again, what does it mean to be unhappy? I see it as this:
Desired reality vs. Actual reality
You want a great job but you’re stuck at a dead end, you want to be healthy but you’ve never exercised, you want a house but have bad credit. These are all examples of desired vs actual reality and what may produce a certain degree of unhappiness. I believe the reason so many people remain unhappy at their unfulfilling job is because of a few hardwired fears.
Fear of the unknown
We as humans innately fear the unknown. Imagine Christopher Columbus sailing across the ocean, many believed he would sail right off the edge of the earth. Why is it we fear the unknown? It is most likely because we can’t anticipate the consequences. Therefore, instead of charging ahead with a new opportunity, many play it safe and stay within their comfort zone. Over time, this may degrade happiness and even lead to regret.
Insanity is the act of doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. To see a change for the better, fear needs to be pushed aside and replaced with perceived opportunity. Instead of imagining all the negative consequences, think of all the great possibilities that could work in your favor!
Fear of failure
The fear of failure is common among almost everyone. We all learned from a young age that failure is bad and success is good. If you received an F on your test, you were most likely viewed with disappointment and even scolded. It’s human nature to avoid anything unpleasant, so over time we’ve learned to avoid failure whenever possible. What we didn’t learn in school is that failure is part of the learning process. Instead of charging ahead with opportunity, we’ve developed the habits of procrastination, excuses, and pessimism.
Failure is good!
Sure, everyone wants immediate success, but that’s hardly the reality. To overcome the fear of failure, you need to change your view on failure and see it as what it is, a part of the learning process. You might fall flat on your face from time to time. Just learn to get up, keep moving, and learn where you went wrong. Eventually, not only will you lose your fear of failure, but you’ll start seeing more success.
Fear of criticism
The fear of criticism stems from someone’s need for external validation. To feel good about what they’re doing, they seek approval from their community. When you receive criticism, it can be difficult because you’re essentially being rejected by that person. This rejection in turn can lead to feelings of disappointment, self-doubt, and evidence that you’re fatally flawed. Once you’ve internalized outside criticism into personal rejection, you’ll do anything to avoid it.
The funny thing is, criticism in no way is reflective of the truth. Each individual has grown up with their own experiences, biases, and perception of reality. The more you realize criticism has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them, the more you can push past it. You can’t please everyone, so brush off that criticism and go for what you want!
Breaking out of mediocrity
As you can see, fear can really stifle your potential. Most people stay within their comfort zone, afraid to push the boundaries in fear of the unknown, failure, and outside criticism. This leads to a life of mediocrity and unfulfilled potential. Instead, view fear as an exciting opportunity to grow and better yourself. Charge ahead into the unknown, disregard the possibility of failure, and let criticism slide right off your back. Remember, money is always renewable, time is not. So, get out there, break free of mediocrity, and work towards the life you want!
How are you breaking out of mediocrity? Leave a comment below!
