People idolize their favorite celebrities. Whether it be sports, music or movies we all have our favorites. But there is a part of this general pattern of behavior that I find really confusing.
We look at these superstars that have accomplished many great things and we say to ourselves that it is just awesome what they have been able to do. We find ourselves wishing we could do the things that they do or have done. There is a tendency I think to subconsciously demotivate ourselves because of the pedestal we put our idols on.
What is the difference between you and the likes of say Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift or Robin Thicke? Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant or Tiger Woods, what makes them worth millions a year more than you? How are Hugh Jackman, Natalie Portman or Chris Hemsworth better than you?
The answers are nothing nothing and they aren't. There is no single person alive that is better than anyone else. We all have the same potential for massive greatness. The only difference between us and celebrities is the current status of our potential.
For the rich and famous, their potential is realized. For the rest of us our potential is unrealized. They have simply taken the steps that we have yet to walk. That's it. There is no other difference. Celebrities are not better than average people. Some of them may be more physically attractive but that often has more to do with fashion and makeup than genes.
If you take away the popularity and "status" celebrities are just normal people, many of whom are not all that bright. And as such we should relate ourselves more directly to them. If there is no difference between you and all the celebrities out there, then there is no reason, other than lack of motivation for your results to be any less than theirs.
We should be copying the things that they have done to become successful instead of wistfully gazing up at the pedestals we have placed them upon. We should use their success as the template and model for ours. If those once normal average humans can rise above the crowd so can we.
Many people are of the opinion that if everyone is special and unique it means nobody is. But that idea is completely ridiculous. That's like saying a party with one cool person and a bunch of chumps is a better party than one where everyone is awesome. I don't know about you but i'd much rather hang out with the second crowd.
We all have talents and abilities that we can and should be using to get ahead in life. Now I am not saying everyone can be a rock star, which is good because not everyone likes rock (BLASPHEMY!). But everyone can certainly be truly great in at least one area of their life. And every person who isn't is selling themselves and the world short.
What is your biggest accomplishment to date? What will it be ten years from now? And did this post change your outlook at all?
Showing posts with label accomplishment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accomplishment. Show all posts
Monday, March 17, 2014
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Anticipation or Accomplishment ?
You probably realize by now that a decent sized chunk of my life revolves around challenging preconceived notions. Today is certainly no exception.
It is a commonly held belief that, our accomplishments in life are what really matter and that the road traveled is less important than where we end up. But that is simply not true. For one, because there are a lot of unsavory ways of reaching perfectly good goals. And the second and more important point has less to do with morals and more to do with psychology.
When are children happier and more excited about Christmas, the day after Christmas or the day before?
For many of us the whole month of December is filled with the magic of the approaching holiday. The temperatures start to fall. People smile a bit more to one another. There is this inexplicable feeling of mystery and something positive in the air. There are fond thoughts of spending time with our relatives, and other people we never seem to see enough of. The anticipation is tremendous and awesome and drives us to do many great things for those we care about.
But what about December 26th and after? Once it it's all over, that feeling vanishes and people go back to being jerks to one another. Anticipation 1 Accomplishment 0
How about students in school advancing towards a degree?
There's all this talk of what they are going to be and all the energy devoted towards accomplishing that goal. Tons of fun and creativity go into getting the desired degree. But once they have it, what then? The excitement about that particular thing vanishes and a new goal is then made.
What about several hours before vs several hours after a sexual encounter?
Are you noticing a pattern? Anticipation is really where its at. When we are working towards a goal we are inspired. Our imagination and creativity are fully engaged. There is more passion, desire and focus than at any other time in our lives.
What do we have afterwards? Some fond memories, pictures and maybe a plaque upon our wall. Speaking from experience, I can certainly say that, yes it does feel good to be able to look back and remember a thing that I have accomplished, to be able to point to a thing and say I did that. But what I remember most strongly are the things that happened along the way, the challenges that sprang up, the fun that was had brainstorming, while searching for a way around the obstacles. I remember the experiences that were involved in getting to the goal and the time I shared with the people that worked with me to meet those accomplishments.
Our accomplishments themselves pale in comparison to the path we walk to achieve them. They serve as great milestones at varying points in our life and help us to determine what we should work towards next. But the real joys in life are to be found on our way to and not at the finish lines of each race.
It is a commonly held belief that, our accomplishments in life are what really matter and that the road traveled is less important than where we end up. But that is simply not true. For one, because there are a lot of unsavory ways of reaching perfectly good goals. And the second and more important point has less to do with morals and more to do with psychology.
When are children happier and more excited about Christmas, the day after Christmas or the day before?
For many of us the whole month of December is filled with the magic of the approaching holiday. The temperatures start to fall. People smile a bit more to one another. There is this inexplicable feeling of mystery and something positive in the air. There are fond thoughts of spending time with our relatives, and other people we never seem to see enough of. The anticipation is tremendous and awesome and drives us to do many great things for those we care about.
But what about December 26th and after? Once it it's all over, that feeling vanishes and people go back to being jerks to one another. Anticipation 1 Accomplishment 0
How about students in school advancing towards a degree?
There's all this talk of what they are going to be and all the energy devoted towards accomplishing that goal. Tons of fun and creativity go into getting the desired degree. But once they have it, what then? The excitement about that particular thing vanishes and a new goal is then made.
What about several hours before vs several hours after a sexual encounter?
Are you noticing a pattern? Anticipation is really where its at. When we are working towards a goal we are inspired. Our imagination and creativity are fully engaged. There is more passion, desire and focus than at any other time in our lives.
What do we have afterwards? Some fond memories, pictures and maybe a plaque upon our wall. Speaking from experience, I can certainly say that, yes it does feel good to be able to look back and remember a thing that I have accomplished, to be able to point to a thing and say I did that. But what I remember most strongly are the things that happened along the way, the challenges that sprang up, the fun that was had brainstorming, while searching for a way around the obstacles. I remember the experiences that were involved in getting to the goal and the time I shared with the people that worked with me to meet those accomplishments.
Our accomplishments themselves pale in comparison to the path we walk to achieve them. They serve as great milestones at varying points in our life and help us to determine what we should work towards next. But the real joys in life are to be found on our way to and not at the finish lines of each race.
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