Will YOU Hide Behind a Mask of Mediocrity this Halloween?

People are sometimes “marginally competent” when their benchmark for success is duplicating the work and results of others rather than exceeding the goals they might establish for themselves.  People living a life of “good enough” or “better than another” usually meet minimum expectations but rarely excel in what they do – often disappointing themselves as much as they do those depending upon them for the “ceiling” they establish in trying to satisfy others is often the “floor” that people might set for themselves.  Unfortunately, many individuals hide behind a mask of mediocrity by trying to be better than others (or have more than someone else – or do something faster than another) rather than simply trying to be the best they might be.  Our society has come to reward effort rather than results – to praise “beginnings” rather than recognizing successful “ends.”  In order to realize our full potential we must discard the masks we wear to hide our insecurities, apprehensions and fears of being “different” so that others can accept us for who we are (rather than for what we think they might wish us to become). 

People are often identified as being capable of “growing into” something or someone they have not yet become.  They accept the recognition of potential as being the end of a journey rather than the beginning of a new adventure.  Unless individuals are given time to develop (and tools to help them succeed), they are often incapable of transforming their current reality into a potential future state – unable to move from what works to what might work much better.  Until we recognize what we wish to become (through our own individual efforts) we will be nothing more than an empty vessel hiding behind the mask of another’s expectations as we shift the responsibility for results onto the overburdened shoulders of achievers and accomplishers – competent individuals who WILL seek recognition elsewhere for their contributions if not fully and freely provided within their current world. 

Whenever we avoid competency issues rather than resolving them, we “mask” our problems without eliminating them.  We reward effort and intent but compromise our expectations for positive results each time we accept a “mask of good intentions” rather than looking behind it to see what talent (and desire) truly exists beneath the mask.  We easily accept children hiding behind masks and costumes knocking on our doors calling out “Trick or Treat” but should not allow ourselves to live within a world that encourages and rewards similar efforts from grown individuals unwilling to contribute to our accomplishments or results.  When we portray ourselves to be something we are not, we may be able to fool some but will not be able to transform our lives into what they could be until we learn our lessons from failure – until we leap up after falling – until we spring forward after slipping back.  When we accept ourselves at “face value” without investing any effort or consideration into what we COULD become we can expect to receive back only what we invested – nothing of value in return for a lack of significance. 

Children hide behind a variety of masks at Halloween while seeking treats in an effort to camouflage their identities from those around them.  Acceptable child-like behavior, however, should not set the course we find ourselves following.  If we consciously and intentionally seek to become something not yet realized or achieved – to become what we WISH to be rather than being what others might express as being acceptable – we will celebrate true success.  Unlimited possibilities abound when reality is set free.  Extraordinary investments ALWAYS provide an exceptional return. 

Do not allow yourself to accept mediocrity in life – expect “treats” rather than “tricks” by seeking the tools and supports necessary for dreams to become reality.  Acknowledge, accept and reveal yourself to those around you – refusing to accept anything less than your all or reaching lower than the sky.  You can achieve your full potential ONLY when you remove the mask of mediocrity (that is so tempting to hide behind) and quit pretending to be something or someone you are not.  Then, and only then, will you be able to bring to fruition all that you could be – to realize the dream of an unrestricted, uninhibited and unmasked future, as you move from “pretender” to “contender” within this race we call life.