Why Living A Mediocre Life Is Not God's Plan For You
Mediocre life got you down? Learn why it's not meant for you and get 8 practical tips to live with purpose.
Do you feel like you're living a mediocre life, with an underlying sense of unfulfillment and a nagging feeling that this is all that God has planned for you?
Are you resigned to a life that is just "good enough," staying within your comfort zone and settling for less-than-great things?
You're not alone. Many people fall prey to the seduction of mediocrity, thinking they can only achieve so much.
However, I believe living a mediocre life is not God's plan for you. You were fashioned with a specific purpose and abilities that are intended to be utilized to your fullest potential.
Christ Jesus desires you to live an abundant, joyful, and fulfilling life, rather than one characterized by a lack of excitement and meaning.
In this blog post, we will explore:
What it means to live a mediocre life
Why living a mediocre life is not God's plan for you
And 8 Practical tips for living a purposeful life
What Does It Mean To Live A Mediocre Life?
To exist within mediocrity implies accepting less than our potential capabilities. This type of life tends to lack enthusiasm and direction.
In an article from exploringthemind.com, is a good description of how mediocrity looks like in society and how this lifestyle has been indoctrinated into society:
" The desire to be "normal" or return to normalcy has been infected with mediocrity, where being like everyone else equates to the ideal. The inability to forge great ideals and fight for them is what defines mediocrity."
The article further goes on to say:
Mediocrity is characterized by a deep-seated desire to conform and be accepted by others without questioning why. This needs for approval is often fulfilled without considering the basis or purpose of the approval itself. In other words, the mediocre individual is content with blending in with the crowd and does not seek to challenge the status quo.
Therefore living a mediocre life can be seen throughout different aspects of our existence, including settling for an unfulfilling job, staying in a relationship that doesn't meet our needs, or simply functioning without any direction or purpose.
Living a mediocre life can lead to feelings of emptiness, disappointment, and a lack of purpose. It can leave us feeling unfulfilled, resentful, and unsatisfied with our lives.
Furthermore, it can prevent us from achieving our full potential, realizing our dreams, and making a positive impact on the world.
For this reason, it's crucial to break free from mediocrity and begin living a bountiful, joyful, and fulfilling life.
By living a life of purpose and passion, we can experience the goodness of God and discover His will for our whole lives.
Why Living A Mediocre Life Is Not God's Plan For You
Living a life of mediocrity is not the right thing for us as we were created in God's image. In fact, it is one of the worst things we can do, as it goes against the perfect will of God for our lives.
As humans, we are meant to live with purpose and meaning, and veering away from God's plan can have negative consequences.
The Bible clearly teaches us to live a life of purpose and to seek God's guidance in everything we do. In Jeremiah 29:11, God declares that He has plans for us to prosper and have hope in the future. This verse highlights God's desire for us to live a good life that is filled with hope and success.
Similarly, in Ephesians 2:10, we are reminded that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works that God has prepared for us beforehand.
This passage emphasizes that God has a specific plan for each person, and it is our duty to live in accordance with that plan.
8 Practical Tips For Living A Purposeful Life
Unleash Your Inner Calling
If you haven't yet discovered your life's purpose, it's crucial to take proactive measures and delve deep within yourself to discover it.
Spend time reflecting on your values, interests, and abilities to unleash your calling.
As I briefly went over 5 strategies in a previous post on "Why Your Calling May Not Be What You Expected," to help you find your calling in life. Here are the strategies I discussed in that post:
Eliminate distractions and look deep within yourself. This involves finding a quiet place where you can pray and meditate, and listen deeply and intently to what God may be telling you, listen to your desires and ideas.
When in meditation or prayer, pay close attention to any ideas that pop into your mind, for your ideas can be a sign of your purpose and mission.
Pay attention to what you are passionate about and what interests you in life. Also, pay attention to what you are truly good at without much effort.
What angers you? This is the biggest sign of your purpose. If there is one particular issue you see within society and the world that truly bothers you and may not bother anyone else you know, is a big indicator of your purpose.
You can read the full article here!
2. Embrace Fear and Take the First Step
Once you've discovered your purpose, it's natural to feel fearful and resist change. Stepping outside of your comfort zone and venturing into new territory can be uncomfortable, especially when faced with a lack of faith.
Achieving a profound understanding of our purpose is a pivotal milestone in our lives. Once this revelation is attained, it becomes essential to relinquish our former selves and cultivate the traits that align with the divine calling placed upon us.
However, this transformative process is not without its difficulties. Breaking away from our past experiences and thought patterns can be a challenging feat.
The adoption of a Kingdom mentality, one that embodies greatness, requires a shift in our way of thinking, which may pose a formidable obstacle to overcome, given our past conditioning.
Take the first step, and have faith that God's instruments will guide you. Remember that personal growth and progress stem from conquering our fears.
3. Be Willing to Make Sacrifices
Living a purposeful life requires sacrifices. This may entail relinquishing some of your free time or parting ways with relationships or activities that no longer serve your vision.
Yet, when you align your actions with the right reason and your purpose, the sacrifice becomes worthwhile.
Identify any mediocre people or activities that you may need to let go of to live out your purpose fully and avoid living a life of mediocrity.
4. Continuously Learn and Grow in Alignment with Your Purpose and Values
Once you've discovered your purpose, it's essential to continually learn and develop within that area. You can achieve this by reading books, attending workshops, or listening to podcasts that are relevant to your field.
Ensure you're investing your time and energy into activities aligning with your purpose and values. This will help you become extraordinary in your field.
Having a clear sense of purpose is a pivotal determinant of motivation and energy. Continuously learning and growing permits you to stay aligned with your purpose, thereby directing your actions toward its fulfillment, culminating in a more satisfying life experience. Values serve as a compass that guides our behavior and decision-making processes.
By prioritizing learning and growth in alignment with our values, we are more prone to make choices that are consistent with our principles.
Prioritizing personal growth is indispensable for one's development. It enhances self-awareness, imparts new skills, and expands our knowledge base.
5. Set Clear Priorities and Firm Boundaries
To live out your purpose entirely, setting clear priorities and boundaries is crucial. Allocate time every day or week to work on your purpose, be cautious about how you spend your time and guard against others snatching it away from you.
When you discover your purpose, it's not uncommon for people to covet your time. Frequently, those in our social circle who don't know who they are or lack aspirations will try to hinder our progress.
Such individuals mean well and try to give us good advice and suggestions, but their influence can lead us astray from our path.
Remember that your time and energy are precious resources that need to be used wisely. Guard your heart and mind against negative influences that can lead you to a life of mediocrity.
6. Reignite Your Inner Child
Children are naturally imaginative and free-spirited because they haven't been conditioned to conform to societal norms and expectations. As we grow older, we tend to lose this creativity and freedom.
The abundant advantages that children possess, which we have forgotten in our adult years, offer a valuable learning opportunity for us:
Children have the ability to live carefree in the present moment, a valuable lesson that we can benefit from.
Children possess a natural curiosity to explore and learn. We can discover that children can foster curiosity which is essential for personal growth and development.
Children possess a fearlessness in daring to dream and visualize their future, that is a quality that we as adults can emulate to reignite our own aspirations and passions.
To live out our purpose entirely, it's vital to become like a child again and embrace our innate curiosity.
7. Serve Others with Your Talents and Abilities
Living a purposeful life means utilizing your gifts and talents to serve others. Make sure you're using your skills and abilities to positively impact the world and contribute to the kingdom of heaven. When we serve others, we not only benefit them but also ourselves.
8. Stay Committed to Your Purpose Every Day
Lastly, the most critical step in living a purposeful life is to commit to it daily. Consistently take action towards your goals, even if it's a small step.
Remember that progress is a gradual process, and every tiny effort brings you closer to living out your purpose.
Summary
Here is a brief summary of the important points we have discussed so far:
Living a life of mediocrity is not a part of the divine blueprint that God has designed for us.
Each of us has a specific purpose and plan designed by God.
Our purpose can be discovered by seeking God's guidance and attuning ourselves to His calling.
The pursuit of our God-given purpose is what leads to a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
I strongly encourage you to take proactive steps toward fulfilling the divine plan that God has for your life.
Settling for a life of mediocrity would be a disservice to your inherent potential for a life of meaning and significance.
Remember, you have been given unique talents and skills for a specific purpose, so take the first step toward discovering your calling.
Sources:
https://exploringyourmind.com/the-addiction-to-mediocrity-the-desire-to-be-like-all-the-rest/