A LETTER FROM CHRIS SUAREZ

HUMANS ARE NOT AVERAGE

Last year, I wrote a blog post, You Are Not Average. It was mostly a letter to myself as a reminder to never show up as average. I look to put myself in environments and surround myself with people that don’t allow me to slip into average.  Lately I have been amazed at the sheer will, grit, intelligence, and accomplishments of some humans.  Take a walk through any modern city, test out the latest technology, read the latest Wired or Scientific American magazine, or listen to a few TEDx talks, and you will undeniably be convinced that humans are not average.  

We are all incredible. Every human is brilliant. Every human is creative. Every human is wildly resilient. Every human is beautiful. 

So where does this idea of average come from? Instead of being a natural model of the world, it’s a mathematical formula. The “average” is obtained by adding up a set of numbers and then dividing the sum of the values of that set by their number.  Other dictionaries define “average” as normal, or typical, or common.  

Average should never be used to describe a human being. No one is normal or typical or common. Humans are not average. 

So where does average sneak in? Our consistency may be average. Our habits may be average. Our efforts may be  average. Our work ethic may be average. Our time management may be average. Our motivation may be average.

Over time, letting any of those things show up again and again and again can lead to them becoming us. Don’t let average become you. It isn’t a given, it isn’t necessary.  

Without having this conversation with ourselves, we can begin to believe we are average or allow others to tell us we are. This comes from comparison, from a series of life events, from being in relationships that don’t champion us, or surrounding ourselves with average consistency, habits, efforts, work ethic, time management, or motivation. We can begin to show up as average because we allow ourselves to, or those around us allow us to.

A human brain weighs just about three pounds and within it holds some 100 billion neurons.  These neurons are carrying incredible bits of information, firing and driving us to show up as anything but average. 

Go out and be extraordinary this week. 

We are all designed to break the mold of average.