BEing Extraordinary

10 years ago I wrote a blog that made it into 2 of my books called, "Be EXTRAORDINARY'. This is an update and reaction on that thought. Part of my thinking is based in my belief that most everything that's important, significant is in a process never a completed 'project'. Actually, I think my main point in that blog was to suggest that the reader consider themselves and to never accept an 'ordinary' definition unless that describes their extraordinary. 

Some of what I wrote was:

  "You can live a superlative life. Why be average (whatever that means or how it

    is defined)? Surely mediocre is not something to be pursued? Then again,

    remember that 'extra' and 'super' are defined individually as well. Superlative

    basically means reaching for or stretching yourself for that which is just beyond

    your finger tips. Yes it is a striving. And yes, it is competitive but the focus,

    actor, and definer (and competitor) is yourself. Striving in this context is not

    necessarily stressful nor painful but it isn't a walk in the park either. It means

    setting the goal so that you don't achieve success quickly. And your 

    competitor? Your previous successes."

Can't say that I disagree with any of that. As you can read, process is intimately involved... you don't go to bed at night and wake up mediocre or extraordinary. You compromise to get to mediocre, you partner with the Lord to be extraordinary. I went on to say:

   "The 'get by', 'get along' mindset is really not one to cultivate. This truly would

    be a way to be tossed by every wind that comes by. I would think it would be

    quite confusing because in this approach, you really don't have your own set of

    standards to live by.  Soooo... what are you? Why would you want to be

    average or 'ordinary'? Does fear of failure, of not attaining 'extraordinary' stop

    you from trying? Or... perhaps you are listening to the voices of those who

    don't realize your potential? People who would rather see you as compromising

    to be 'average' so they don't have to raise their own standard. 

    Never forget that if you try for extraordinary and don't make it, where you

    arrive is going to be definitely higher than 'ordinary'. Don't misunderstand,

    'ordinary' isn't 'bad' unless it's less than what you are capable of accomplishing.

    Even in a limiting situation you are in control of what you learn, what you

    discover, how you refine what you do and how you can do it. Others can

    attempt to limit you but only you can decide to accept that limitation. 

    In the last analysis, you are the only one who can determine if your effort is

    extraordinary or not because you are the definer of the word. But extraordinary

    is something that is exhilarating when you do attain it. It is a defining

    moment."

I think 'extraordinary' is always what I've wanted as descriptive of my default. Did and do not always attain this... but I also ascribe to the belief that if you err, sin, etc. that doesn't need to define you or your goal. Yes, that does smack of 'if you don't succeed, try, try again'. and what's wrong with that? Probably only if you don't have a 'done' point (in terms of achievement or changing). Some things truly aren't for us and we need to walk away. Simply check with your partner - the Lord never tempts, never misleads, never sets us up for failure. Remember His words of never leaving or forsaking us and that as we abide in Him we will be fruitful. That kinda defines 'extraordinary'.