The Fast Lane to Mediocrity

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The Fast Lane to Mediocrity

Welcome to Three-Peat Tuesday!

Each weekly blog will contain three P’s: Pillar, Principle and Practical, all geared towards nourishing you on your personal and spiritual growth journey.

Pillar: Avoiding the Speed Trap

“Mediocrity is always in a rush.”-Amelia Barr, novelist.

Principle: The Deception of Rushing

I recently came across the above quote from Amelia Barr while reading a blog post from habits expert James Clear. It jumped out at me because regular readers of my blog may remember that my wife, Michelle, and I committed to unhurried living in 2021.

As hard as slowing down has been, it has easily been one of the most rewarding decisions Michelle and I have made. I even started to take up the challenge from authors like John Mark Comer and John Ortberg to intentionally go in the longest line at a supermarket or food outlet!

In this regard, I’ve really come to love the New Revised Standard Version’s translation of Proverbs 19:2, a passage I cited in my patience blog in November 2020.  Here’s what the NRSV says: “Desire without knowledge is not good, and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way.”

Are you moving too hurriedly? Have you been stacking up your days with too many meetings, tasks or activities? Do you feel like you are controlling your schedule or has it been controlling you? Let’s face it. The more we rush, the greater the chances of a substandard, mediocre final product, whatever our endeavour may be.

I suspect that you have been getting all kinds of signals to reduce the speed of your life: something you read or heard recently, a show you watched or the more sobering reality of physical and emotional fatigue. And now, I’ve come with this blog to hammer the point home. Perhaps this is divine instruction through human vessels. If it is, pay attention.

Practical: Stifling Mediocrity

A great way to stifle mediocrity is to slow down. Develop a healthy hatred for hurry.  

If you were inspired by this blog, please consider sharing it with one other person today. To learn more about these and other related themes that promote the cultivation of an integrated inner self, read UNBEATABLE! which is now available on Amazon in print and as an e-book.

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Hope Kerr

    I needed this Tyrone, particularly with getting my priorities on straight. Serious thing!!!

  2. J. Tyrone Marcus

    No problem at all, Hope! We journey together.

  3. Shurlene Smart-Julien

    “Develop a healthy hatred for hurry” Wow. Its the total opposite of how I’ve been treating my life over the last few months. But it’s necessary. Within me hurrying so much has been lost, and mediocrity is quickly becoming the ‘norm ‘. I remember when I had a “healthy hatred for mediocrity”. I need to get back to that place. Thank you Tyrone .

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