To Reach Up or To Reach Down?
When confronted with a challenge, we, as humans have two choices: to reach up or to reach down. Men of excellence reach up without hesitation. Then again, those who are mediocre, also without any forethought, descend. We can say: "I'm only human", as we opt to become less than we could be under the circumstances; or we can say: "because I'm human", as we strive to ascend. Excellence is as difficult as it is rare, while mediocrity is as easy as it is common.
It is sad that what was once considered to be unacceptable is now branded as mediocre. And tragic that what was once mediocre is now referred to as excellent. More horrifying is that excellence is being exploited by mediocrity; that it is being made to serve its inferior; that the unaccomplished now receive the same rewards as those who have achieved excellence, and even worse, that they are feasting on the fruits of another man’s labor. To the mediocre, mediocrity is excellent; but to those who are truly excellent, mediocrity is the bane of human majesty.
The real danger doesn't lie in the mere existence of mediocrity, but in the fact that those who are less ambitious resent those who aspire more - not because more is unavailable to them, but because more asks more of them. He who acquires the habit of right action masters the art of excellence. This acquired mode of behavior ultimately culminates in virtue, and anyone who is willing to fulfill this requirement can elevate himself. However, this demands extraordinary commitment and the above average capacity for hard work. Hence, the deep-rooted aversion to excellence demonstrated by those who are suffering from self- inflicted ineptitude. Excellence threatens their very existence, and so they greet it with violent opposition. Rather than competing fairly in the marketplace of goods, services and ideas, they attempt, by any means possible, to eliminate anyone or anything they perceive to be a threat. Those who shine on their own, however, find it unnecessary to extinguish other bright lights, and in fact, derive great satisfaction from joining with their colleagues to further illuminate the world. They do not seek to destroy or discredit. They understand clearly and calmly that mediocrity simply burns out on its own.
Excellence does not come with or because of a prestigious diploma or some other authoritative seal of approval; nor can tailoring standards to fit a favored few produce it. When we get into the "business of excellence", we, in fact, institutionalize mediocrity while "officially" usurping the better title. In spite of what today's pseudo intellectual movement demands, it is not more diplomas that we need, but more excellence. And this can only be achieved by building character more so than grade point averages. Posterity will be most affected by today's level of excellence, not by today's number of graduates. School is not necessarily synonymous with education and education is not necessarily synonymous with, nor does it guarantee excellence. Knowing excellence is one thing, having and using it is another.
So where does excellence begin? I believe with the love for our work. However, very few of us choose our vocations with this value in mind. Since we are all concerned with providing food, clothing and shelter for ourselves and loved ones, doing what we love may not always seem practical. It is true, that we can learn to love what we do and respect it for what it affords us, but is that enough to propel us to excellence? Is that enough to motivate us to go above and beyond what is merely required, to a level that would be considered eminent? It is doing what we love that allows us to endure the rigors of excellence. Where love lacks, hard work is a burden. But where love abounds, hard work is not only pleasurable it is a godsend.
Although some examples of excellence may still be found today, mediocrity rules. It is not only implied by the shallowness of our times, it is encouraged by many notable figures who command attention simply because of their celebrity status or high station. These are the new archetypes of success. Many of our young people have never had the opportunity to witness or experience true excellence. They’re constantly fed a never-ending array of superficial values and as a result have acquired a taste for mediocrity, never learning to savor excellence.
The few now carry the many; the mediocre now punish the excellent, and therein lies the dilemma – to reach up or to reach down? Do we join the untiring few who are becoming fewer, or the self-satisfied many that are growing in number as rapidly as they are shrinking in ability? Do we ascend into slavery, even if it is euphemistically promoted as altruism, or do we descend into humiliation, even if it is euphemistically justified as an entitlement? Either option is distasteful - to reach up or to reach down – excellence or mediocrity - to reach up or to reach down – host or parasite - to reach up or to reach down?
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As a natural health consultant for over 25 years Mark Houllif has been teaching the scientific principles of health promotion. The goal is to guide the individual back to health using natural and nutritonal methods. By removing the causes of disease and establishing conditions of health we allow the body to most powerfully manifest its natural healing tendencies.
