We all have hopes and dreams, but if you don’t guard against mediocrity, you will find that your dreams will not come true.

Mediocrity is a term that many of us would not use for ourselves. We believe that we are self-evolving and developing in exponential ways. Each person has a different idea of what this word means. Still, when you analyze all areas of your life, you may be surprised to see that mediocrity is lurking in the corners of your life.

Mediocrity essentially means you are doing something average, without growth or development. Have you ever said, “there’s got to be more than this?” Or, “I can’t imagine doing this one more time?” This is a good indication that mediocrity has permeated that area of your life. One of the best ways to determine if you are feeling mediocre is to look at all areas of your life. Are you being fulfilled? Are you engaging in the same emotional struggles, behaviors, or the same unfulfilling activities from last year? If that’s the case, you may not be proactively growing, but merely letting life dictate your path – mostly being mediocre.

As we mature we often think in decades, for example, in your 20s you’ll start your career, in your 30s you’ll start your family, etc. This is great in theory, but when you focus too far out in the future, you lose sight of the daily areas of your life that need nurturing. You must focus on what healthy things you can do at this moment, as opposed to mindlessly doing what you have always done.

One tool I teach my clients is to create a Graph of Fulfillment. This is a great tool that helps you measure where you are thriving and areas where you may be struggling with mediocrity. Break down multiple categories in your life to the smallest sub-categories possible. Some examples are your health, exercise, diet, finances, intimate relationship, friendships, vacations, spirituality, leisure time, etc. After you create as many sub-categories as you can think of create two intersecting lines – one horizontal and one vertical. On the vertical line, create marks 1 – 10. On the horizontal line, write your multiple categories. The next step is to rate each of the categories from 1 – 10, ten being the most fulfilled, and one being the least fulfilled. Be honest with yourself.

When you take the time to analyze each area of your life, it gives you a snapshot of how you are currently experiencing your life. Once you have this information, it gives you the ability to focus on ways to improve the unfulfilled, mediocre areas in your life. The more you practice this, the more you will live a proactive life, one on your terms instead of what life says you should do.

Life is like a current – it moves whether you are aware of it or not. Don’t wake up five years from now engaged in the same thoughts or behaviors as today. Each day you are given 24 hours to reset and focus on what is healthy for you. Don’t let another day pass with you doing the same thing as the day before.