True happiness is giving up and accepting mediocrity

Published: Nov. 4, 2019, 9 a.m.

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It's a bold claim but striving for excellence is a dead end. Not only philosophically but biologically. In fact, evolution isn't about the 'survival of the fittest' it's about the triumph of the 'good enough'. That's what the head of Mediocrity Studies at South Mimms U believes. She uses the thesis in the new book by Daniel S. Milo, Good Enough, to argue that we'd all be happier if we accepted mediocrity - being somewhere in the middle, not too good and not too bad and definitely not a genius - and got on with our lives instead of worrying about being perfect or trying to optimize everything we do and everything we own. It's a new psychological approach based on research, which enables mindfulness as well as a Zen-like calm in the face of rampant consumerism and the sterile pursuit of optimization. It's true in our personal lives and in business too. Having some slack to fall back on - redundancy - is the way species survive in nature. Humans are going against the grain when they pursue excellence. So, kick back, relax, and enjoy the easy middle!

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