[anotheryou]

And another thing: most of us will be medicore, and it's probably better to be ok with it :)

maybe being happy, not successful is all it takes

[rubicon33]

This is a good point, but a very tough one for most people on this forum to swallow.

I think it's good to give everything your best effort, to strive for greatness, and constantly check yourself to make sure you're giving it your all.

But then, if you don't succeed, find peace in life's way. Be okay with yourself, your progress, and your place in life. When you step back and realize how truly random everything is, then just knowing that you played your cards to the best of your ability, should bring happiness and a sense of peace.

[solipsism]

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.

Hemingway

[stuxnet79]

I guess the realization, after his hey days, that his current self was markedly inferior to his former self, precipitated his suicide.

[IkmoIkmo]

Indeed, statistically we can't all excel, we had best shape a culture in which this fact of life is bearable. Reminds me of a funny study that finds most teachers rate themselves above average teachers, most drivers rate themselves above average, etc (of course, statistically this is impossible).

[pbhjpbhj]

Can't we all excel at different things?

The problem with those surveys could be the question as much as anything - one driver considered themselves above average because they can drive faster, another because they're safer, another because they have better fuel economy, ..., most drivers can be better than average as the meaning of average each driver users isn't being rigorously defined.