We live in a world where we are faced with comparisons every minute and every second. As soon as we check our phones first thing in the morning, the feeling of not being enough or extraordinary kicks in even before coffee. While it is good to be your own critic so you don’t get lazy and stay determined, it is unfair to keep comparing yourself to others.

Nobody wants to be average. We all want to be more but most of us are stuck at the thought of where to start. The internet is filled with tips and techniques to push your horizons and how to lift yourself up from the baseline set by those around you. For most, getting out of debt, budgeting, investing, getting insurance, time management, and thinking creatively are some of the benchmarks, which they think will make them better than an average Joe.

In our opinion, you shouldn’t set your goals on the basis of someone else’s horizon. Be bold, create your own sky and set your own limits! You do not have to prove yourself to anyone besides yourself. 

However, if you feel like your happiness lies in being extraordinary or proving yourself to be better than an average Joe, here are some ways which can help you feel validated and proud of yourself:

1. Do Not Succumb To Media’s Unrealistic Expectations

We all want to see the best of content and the best of the lot on our news feeds every day. Nobody wants to see a below-average or a mediocre element of content first thing in the morning. While there are multiple reasons as to why this thinking is wrong, we will focus on just one.

To be honest, the content you come across on social media is not original. It is scripted and made with enormous amounts of filters, crews, and layers. If you find yourself feeling average with such content, you need to acknowledge the facts and the truth behind the scenes too. However, if you find yourself unbothered with such content, be proud of yourself.

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” – Bruce Lee

2. Connect, Don’t Compete

The key rule to rest your anxieties for a while is to stop comparing yourself with people around you. Like celebrities, you do not know the behind stories of even the closest of your friends and family members. Each person has his/her own capacity and definition.

Think of it like this, if you are trying to fulfill the expectations of others, you’re not extraordinary, you’re just an average Joe. However, if you are setting your own path controlled by your own pace, you are doing something more daring than others. Even if you do fail, you should be proud of yourself for at least having the courage to take a different path.

3. Put Yourself Before Your Boss and Parents

The new hustle culture which depicts that a person should always be grinding in order to be successful is stupid. Even if you become successful with a house, some cars, and expensive trips, what’s the point if you do not enjoy the road too? The journey should be a memorable part, not the destination.

Working hard is a good quality which should be appreciated but there’s a fine line between working hard and burdening yourself. Find happiness in the way; take out time from your busy schedules for self-care. Treat yourself every once in a while with a break because you’ve earned it!

4. Too Much Information

Today, whatever you want to know is just a click away. The mysteries and even the dumbest of questions can be asked from the internet and the answers are just a tap away. But there is a thing called too much information. Knowing things is good but we don’t even realize when this information starts affecting our lives and mentality.

It doesn’t just affect us, it affects the people around us too. Be proud of yourself if you don’t lend an ear to every piece of information that comes your way! Prioritize information on the basis of relevance and relativity.

“Find out who you are and be that person. That’s what your soul was put on this earth to be. Find that truth, live that truth, and everything else will come.” – Ellen DeGeneres

5. Focus On Happiness And Not Success

It is 2020, and unfortunately, with so much awareness regarding mental health around us, people still think that every successful person is happy with his/her life. But in fact, it is not true at all. Many successful people are struggling with depression and anxiety which concludes that happiness and success are not related to each other.

If you are someone who finds happiness in the most minimal and average things in your life, then pat yourself on the back. Because you’re not an average Joe. The ability to control and be in charge of one’s happiness is the biggest achievement one can ever attain.

Lastly, if you’re someone who appreciates yourself and does not depend on anyone else’s validation, BE PROUD OF YOURSELF!