As I set out on a new direction in life. among the overwhelming support I’ve been getting, there’s a vein of admiration, usually accompanied by the phrase “I wish I had the guts/balls/courage/personality to…”
After dozens of such conversations, I’ve identified the number one reason people’s lives stagnate: because it’s not bad enough.
A boring job, the dripping sink, a mediocre marriage, shaky finances, joint pain. It might not be good, but it’s not bad enough.
Until one day it is. Or until one day you die. Usually, the latter.
Usually, by the way, it is bad enough. We’ve just forgotten what it is to have the energy of life of a toddler, the peace of mind of a guru, the passionate love of a teenager, and the daily thrill of the adventurer. We are accustomed to the flatline of a comfortable life.
What’s “not bad enough” in your life? Check out these common phrases of the “not bad enough” life.
- It seems to have a cycle where it gets bad and I want to leave, but then she/he/it changes, and then I stay. Then it slowly deteriorates again.
- Everyone /every job /every place has problems
- It’s not that bad.
- I should be grateful.
- I‘ve gotten used to it.’
Being able to tolerate non-ideal situations is an important skill, but when it becomes the norm, your life loses all the juice. You wake up in the morning simply because you didn’t die in your sleep.
Governments and big businesses are dependent on “not bad enough”. If it’s not bad enough, people will keep voting and living with the illusion of control rather than overthrowing the government. If it’s not bad enough, they’ll keep working at slightly lower wages and buying products of slightly lower quality.
The cure for Not Bad Enough is fairly simple, but it takes courage. When you identify the symptoms, ask yourself the following questions:
- What am I putting up with?
- What would the ideal be? What are 3 possible solutions?
- What would I have to do to make that happen now?
- What would I have to do to maintain that? (If you are losing weight, having a great marriage, or building business, it’s not a one-time fix.)
- What are 10 benefits I’ll get from making this change?
- What are 10 negative consequences if I just keep settling for things the way they are.
Your turn! What are you putting up with that is going to stop today?