rising above

"Recently I had this conversation with one of the classes and thought I would share it with you, as it is a subject that has been deeply impacting my life lately. The question I posed to this class is this:

" 'Why do we allow ourselves to settle for mediocrity?'

"What exactly is mediocrity? When looking in the dictionary, its synonyms are fair, average, lacking exceptional ability, and second rate. Are these words that we want describing us? No! Within all of us resides untapped potential! We are more powerful than we can comprehend. There is a quote attributed to Nelson Mandela that begins, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." What often keeps us from achieving something is fear. Truly we are not incapable of great things, we just have to push ourselves. It is in this pushing that we learn many valuable lessons, as the road is usually riddled with unseen potholes.

"So why do we not push ourselves? Why do we settle? Why are we okay with being average? The consensus in class was lack of vision. If we don't have a firm grasp of who we are, what we want and where we are going, then we make no goals and achieve nothing. That is what makes us mediocre.

"I'm not saying that we all have to have the same ideal. What I am saying is, take a look at your life and see if there is something you can improve upon. It can range from massage, to a skill that you would like to master, or a character trait you would like to develop. Everyone has their own opinion as to what makes them mediocre or excellent. That is the great thing. We can all make that choice ourselves!

"I want to issue you all a challenge. Take some time and really ponder this. In your mind and on paper, I want you to create an amazing picture of what you want to be, the looks on your clients faces after a massage, your friend as they notice the change in your attitude, or a teacher that acknowledges you have learned a new skill. Once you have done this, I want you to set goals that will help you achieve these ideal images. It is only with those mental and physical pictures that you will stay motivated.

"I know, in each one of you resides an amazing ability. You are so magnificent! As I look at each of you every day I am astounded at the talents you possess. All of you are unique and have something to contribute. Find that something, because it will make you truly happy as you journey toward it. Don't let yourselves be anything less than you are, because NONE of you are mediocre. Look inward, overcome fear, and rise above."

--by Nicolle Buchanan--


My dearest Nicolle. She was one of the teachers that helped me get through my last months of school. She wrote this in a handout that we all received, and I do have to say, she is brilliant. This speech helped motivate me to the last-- all of a sudden it was like, "What am I doing?? I want to excel!!" So I did. I picked up the last month of school and tried my hardest. And I succeeded.

Her last line is inspiring. Look inward, overcome fear, and rise above. They all connect. To rise above you must first overcome the fear of everything that is holding you back. The motivation to overcome your fears or even first recognise that they exist will first come when you look inward. By looking inward you discover the things you really want most, thus giving you the personal power to overcome and achieve anything you wish.

We are all capable of more than mediocrity. It is just our choice to rise above it.

Need I say more?
Go out and RISE ABOVE!!