Breakthrough Coaching

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀

Mediocre: “of only moderate quality; not very good.”

There’s a remarkable scene in Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (2018) that takes place in an AA meeting, in which Jonah Hill, who plays ”Donnie” tells the meeting attendees:

“When I first entered the program, I had two pairs of pants, one with s--t in them and one without. And I didn’t care which one of them I was wearing. Today, I celebrate mediocrity. I woke up and I put on a pair of non-s---tty pants. And I walked to get a cup of coffee, and it was … delicious. And my day's been pretty good.”

Sometimes, our best is putting on a pair of clean pants. In other words, sometimes, all we can muster is the bare minimum. And not only is that OK, I agree with the sentiment that it is worthy of celebration. If that's the best you got, that's the win. It's not a huge win, but it's a win nonetheless and it's helping you move toward your goal.

This is not to say that we should settle for unhappiness or not set lofty goals. It’s more that success is typically not an end but a journey, and it is always an attitude.

Consider the following to celebrating mediocre wins:
𝟭. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗺. Many of us have spent too long putting ourselves down either through our words or actions or comparison to others. Being OK with who we are regardless of our scoresheet is where it counts.

𝟮. 𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵. My wise sister says that if you only celebrate “success,” you won’t be celebrating very often. Why live like that when you can celebrate each day, instead? I agree. Celebrate that you made your bed, or that you worked out, or that you did half a workout. Think about yourself positively and warmly. You’re worth it.

𝟯. 𝟯:𝟭 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼. Studies show that there’s a 3 to 1 ratio to success in that it takes three positive thoughts to counter one negative thought. No wonder the world is geared toward negativity and fear. It’s a lot more work being positive. Therefore, by celebrating the little things, you’re building a stronger foundation for your success.

𝟰. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿. In studying concentration camp prisoners, Victor Frankl’s masterpiece, 𝘔𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, remarked that prisoners who kept a positive outlook in the face of what can be considered the ultimate worst-case scenario for man thrived and survived. Megan M. Fritz and Sonja Lyubomirsky more recently concluded that: “Evidence from longitudinal randomized controlled trials has shown that people can markedly improve their well-being when they engage in so-called “positive activities”—that is, concrete cognitive or behavioral steps (or both) that boost happiness.” Therefore, we know we can choose our outlook, regardless of the circumstances. So be happy and celebrate wherever you are at the moment.

𝟱. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴. Bud Winter, American track and field coach extraordinaire, in his book 𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘪𝘯, brought forth the theory that being in a relaxed state would bring about better results from his athletes instead of constantly pushing for more excellence. “Winter felt that the best attitude for any type of competition was ‘cool confidence’ not indifference… This is a balancing act. You must want to win. you must be determined, but must be loose — relaxed.”

Self-care, self-love and steady perseverance will bring you the results you desire and work toward. When all you can do is put on a clean pair of pants, then count the win, and keep on trucking.

Sources:
- 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺, 𝘏𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘍𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘵. Directed by Gus Van Sant, Amazon Studios, 2018.
- Frankl, Viktor. 𝘔𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 1946.
- Fritz, M. Megan and Lyubomirsky, Sonja. “How and Why Positive Activities Can Make You Happier,” 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵, March 20, 2018.
- Lewis, Michael, host. “Relax and Win from Legacy of Speed,” 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘓𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘴, Pushkin Industries, June 14, 2022.
- Reizen, Julius. “Relax and Win by Bud Winter— Summary,” 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮. September 12, 2020.
- Robinson, Bryan, Ph D. “The 3-To-1 Positivity Ratio And 10 Ways It Advances Your Career,” 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘦𝘴, October 16, 2020.
- Photo credit: IMDb.com