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Being Realistic: This is a powerful quote by Will Smith talking about aspirations, fear and judgement. I recall hundreds of memories of when I’d been told to be realistic because my dreams sounded silly. Maybe they were trying to protect me or unfortunately projecting their fears onto me.

But none of these things matters in the long run. The only way to move forward is to question inquisitively and curiously about both limitations and aspirations. In this debate, we’ll try to do just that.

Being realistic is the most common path to mediocrity

– Will Smith

What is the meaning of being realistic?

What does it mean to be realistic? By definition, being realistic means the ability to see things the way they are. Although it is an objective exercise, we can’t deny the impact of our own biases and influences to a situation. Synonyms of being realistic include sensible, being practical etc.

Unfortunately, people sometimes use being realistic as an excuse to restrict their dreams. But the most important word in the meaning of being realistic is the ability to be rational. This gives you the best chance to treat facts as they appear, and question your beliefs and challenges.

Being Realistic Is The Most Common Path To Mediocrity – Meaning

This is such a common phrase that I’ve heard growing up. Most times when people said be realistic, it meant as an insult or a softly worded insult to the ideas or aspirations I had. I like this quote by Will Smith because it makes me question the meaning of being realistic. Is being practical an excuse to curb our dreams?

Remember a quote in similar lines – If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough. Let’s now get to the meaning of being realistic is the most common path to mediocrity: Thing is – I really know that things are not going to happen the way I imagined them to be, nor are they going to happen the way I like. There will always be a variation to it and things will be different. But letting that affect our imagination of the goal is really a poor choice.

Quotes on mediocrity

Quotes on mediocrity serve as a reminder to break free from the confines of average and strive for greatness. They highlight the dangers of settling for less and encourage individuals to reach their full potential. These quotes emphasize that mediocrity is self-imposed and that true success lies in pushing beyond the ordinary.

They inspire us to challenge our limitations, step out of our comfort zones, and pursue excellence in all aspects of life. Quotes on mediocrity remind us that we have the power to choose greatness and encourage us to embrace the extraordinary rather than settle for mediocrity. They motivate us to break free from the chains of average and strive for remarkable achievements, ultimately transforming our lives and making a difference in the world.

• “Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.” – Arthur Conan Doyle
• “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo
• “Mediocrity is self-inflicted. Genius is self-bestowed.” – Walter Russell
• “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
• “Don’t settle for mediocrity. Take a chance, take a risk, and make a difference.” – Roy T. Bennett
• “Mediocrity is the result of settling for average when you have the potential to achieve greatness.” – Joel Brown
• “You were born to stand out, not to fit in.” – Seth Godin
• “The trouble with the world is that the mediocre are so full of doubt, while the intelligent are so full of confidence.” – Charles Bukowski
• “Excellence is not a skill, it’s an attitude.” – Ralph Marston
• “Mediocrity is choosing to be average when you have the potential to be extraordinary.” – Anonymous

Don’t restrict your imagination with your justifications

We ought to believe in the impossible. Something might not be possible in the way it is now. But inspiration is a seed of thought. It makes you question the beliefs you hold and think innovatively. Innocently asking the question why will make you venture beyond the way this world is right now?

Maybe something is not possible the way it is right now. Perhaps that’s what the realistic side of our rational brain changes. But that doesn’t mean connected things can’t change to make your vision come true. All this comes back to what your vision is telling you, how important it is for you. Ultimately, it is the question of how committed to a vision you are.

Why do people tell you to be realistic?

The most common reasons why people tell you to be realistic are:

1. They can’t imagine the outcome from their experiences or knowledge
2. Maybe they’re trying to protect you from getting hurt and don’t want you to waste your time
3. They’ve had similar experiences in the past that have hurt them

None of these is an excuse because your journey will be different from theirs. This is not a question of judgement but about identifying bias. We have to get good at recognising the inherent bias people have when they give you advice. If you want to be beyond mediocre, then perhaps you must surround yourself with people like that. It begins with challenging the existing norms and asking the question – Why not!

Being Realistic – The Excuse

Being realistic most often is used as an excuse these days and a very good one at that. But if that was all its purpose, no one in this world has enough patience to sit and listen to the excuses. At some point even we will realize that it is high time that we stop bluffing.

And we do not have to wait for the retirement day to do that, we can chase the unreal and add the realistic dimension to it. We need to have those big dreams, we need to aim for those stars – not just cos they are shiny but they really matter a lot to us.

Being realistic surely is one of the most average goals we can ever have in life and these were our thoughts on the quote critic. Please do share us your ideas about the quote and any other you wish to be discusssed here. Would love to hear from you :)