Painting by Belynda Wilson Thomas

Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune. Carl Jung

This week, an article popped up on my computer comparing average and median wealth per country. Canada is at #10, average wealth per adult is $375,800, and median wealth per adult is $142,587. The U.S. comes in at #4 with average wealth per adult at $564,862, and median wealth per person is $112,157. Switzerland is #1 with wealth per adult at $709,612, and median wealth per person at $171,035.

We all know the mega millionaires and billionaires skew the numbers and make everyone seem like they are doing better than they are. The median number is interesting and the one applying more closely to individuals because if half the people have more wealth than that number and half have less, it is a more meaningful number than the average. The median wealth in Canada for a couple is $285,174.

I read a book years ago, “It’s so easy to be Above Average.” I don’t remember the author’s name, but it seems like a good bar to hold ourselves to. A few couples I know are celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversaries this year – an above-average accomplishment.

What if striving to be average or above average is the mindset that changes everything? What would being above average in physical fitness do for us? Above average in the number of books read, in the steps taken per day, and above average in giving thanks for our blessings? What would an above-average marriage after forty years look like, an above-average relationship with our kids, or our friends look like?  What does an above-average garden look like?

The average, estimate themselves by what they do, the above average by what they are. Friedrich Schiller

Do we set goals that exceed our ability when a lesser goal might be one we could accomplish, and accomplishing the smaller goal leads to bigger goals and accomplishments? Do we think being average isn’t good enough, so we don’t do what would bring us to average or above, because greatness is what we aspire to, but greatness seems out of our grasp? Is the truth that the average in some areas for some people would elevate their lies, and if we could be average or above in all areas, we would have a great life?

Is there an area of our life we would like to elevate? If we elevated three areas of our lives, what would our lives look like? What three would we pick: fitness, health, finances, relationships, gratitude, knowledge, attitude, forgiveness (of ourselves and others), or update how we present ourselves to the world?

We are a work in progress, whether we admit it or not. Are we growing or decaying, and our choices and actions determine which it is? What if the choices we make now determine who we are at sixty, seventy, eighty, or ninety? What if a tweak here or there would make a big difference?

Being above-average in everything might not be possible, but can we always find an area to improve that will elevate our lives? Elevating our life isn’t about comparing ourselves to someone else, but comparing ourselves to who we were yesterday or a year ago.

The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort. Colin Powell

Great minds discuss ideas: average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

Every man is what he is; because of the dominate thoughts which he permits to occupy his mind. Napoleon Hill

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