A Lifelong Pursuit of Self-Optimization
Throughout my life, growth has been my unwavering pursuit. Every day, whether in my personal journey or while working with clients, I am dedicated to self-optimization. I see this not just as a passion, but as a primal drive and an essential obligation.
It’s a journey of ups and downs. Elation and suffering jostle with each other to take the lead. It helps when you understand that this experience is not meaningless or random, but rather an accurate reflection of the very laws of existence.
My own understanding of growth began with a particularly painful yet pivotal experience. As a senior business executive, I appeared successful, flying first class, attending meetings in luxurious boardrooms, and wearing tailored suits. By all external measures, I was thriving.
But I had neglected myself, not taking care of my health, and was headed for a quadruple bypass. Despite my apparent success, I was actually miserable.
One evening, I was sitting at the front of a packed commercial flight returning to New York City from a conference in San Francisco. My plush leather seat and personalized service matched the external success that I had achieved through a life of devotion to hard work. But what I actually felt was agonizingly discordant with my lavish achievements and sumptuous reward. Inside, I was in deep pain. I felt completely trapped in my life, even asphyxiated by it.
When I stepped off the flight, I was determined to escape that crushing pain.
In a fastidious manner, I set about healing, first physically. I took the time to invest in myself again, rebuilding the body that hosted the man. I have described this journey fully in my book, BodyWHealth: Journey to Abundance. Because the body truly is the temple, it is the physical foundation that either nourishes or poisons the life that it hosts.
This growth spurt initiated a cascade of insight, inspiration, and effort as I leaped sequentially through phase after phase of personal evolution, ever away from pain and suffering, toward peace and joy.
“Growth is the only evidence of life.”
—John Henry Newman
Growth Is Life: The Imperative to Evolve
Stasis or decline leads to degeneration and, ultimately, death. Thus, to live fully, we must embrace growth. This philosophy is at the core of my life and work, guiding both my personal journey and the counsel I offer to my clients.
Like trees, we grow in spurts, each season leaving its mark on our life’s story. Reading a tree’s rings reveals its history—seasons of abundance, scarcity, rapid growth, and stagnation. The thin, dark lines you see in the cross section of a freshly cut tree mark periods of slow growth. The thick, fleshy bands represent the phases of well-nourished, rapid expansion. Similarly, our growth patterns narrate our journey through life. We all have periods of rapid advancement and times of slower progress, each contributing to the richness of our life’s tapestry.
Every growth spurt elevates us to a new level. We see something similar in quantum physics, where each new level attained harbors a higher energy state. In life, these invisible but palpable levels reflect our progress in insight, knowledge, maturity, and impact.
Each electron within this band has a range of energies, forming a spectrum rather than a narrow, fixed value.
Now, here is where things get interesting.
In quantum physics, an electron’s orbit, while appearing as a singular ring, is actually a distribution of energies around a mean. Each electron within this band has a range of energies, forming a spectrum rather than a narrow, fixed value.
Humans, like electrons, inhabit growth bands. We gradually move toward the upper margins of our current band before making a quantum leap to the next level. As in quantum physics, this movement is marked by several key features:
- We remain within an energy band for extended periods.
- There is a normal distribution of energies (think bell-shaped curve) within each band; the majority of people lie in the middle of the band.
- Transitioning from one band to another requires a significant infusion of energy.
- This transition is a rapid event, akin to a growth spurt.
- The new status acquired after the leap is dramatically different.
The Human Quantum Leap
Observing the human growth trajectory, we notice how we first become a superior outlier within the current band before leaping to the next level. This dramatic leap propels us to a novice position in the next band, where overall performance is at a much higher level. Although anxious at the new level, we are drawn toward the mean (middle) by both statistical and gravitational forces. However, once we get there, the mean exerts a strong retardant force, creating a sticky zone that traps many in mediocrity.
So, you clearly see how the majority of the orbiting bodies (and people) get stuck within the band, in the middle. And this entrapment in mediocrity is excruciating. This is true even if it remains invisible to us, because most of us don’t realize that we are trapped. We are all designed for growth, which makes the pain of stagnation universal. This unidentifiable inner agony, often felt by high achievers as an unrelenting itch that can’t be scratched, is the pain of mediocrity.
And it was that invisible, but excruciating, pain of mediocrity that had me trapped in my otherwise comfortable airline seat, suffering from psychic asphyxia—the consequence of stasis.
Harnessing the Brain for Growth
Do not succumb to the pain of mediocrity. I refuse to! I invite you to escape it, too.
This escape demands ruthless energy and determination. Sadly, most people regard the escape as a magical gift that only the luckiest receive. But I have learned that this is not the case. Growth is within reach for every single one of us, if we choose. And—even more exciting to me—there are deliberate and proven scientific methodologies that work to help us break free from the middle zone.
Sometimes, even for a scientist, it requires courage to shout loudly (to yourself, and sometimes to others holding you back in the zone of mediocrity):
“Don’t f*$k with me. I’m meant for greater things.”
Our brains play a pivotal role in our quantum journey. By understanding and mastering our Brain Operating System and utilizing concepts like psychic pleomorphism[1], we can gain authority over our minds. This mastery allows us to harness our brain’s immense power, driving growth and avoiding the pain of mediocrity.
Exit from the comfort zone. Make success happen.
Beyond Mediocrity: Growth, Fulfillment, and Joy
Escaping the gravitational pull of mediocrity is not just a choice but a commitment to your highest potential. This journey demands dedication, energy, and the right strategies. Remember, growth is not a mere possibility—it’s your natural destiny.
To transcend the ordinary, you must commit to the extraordinary. This path requires consistent effort and the courage to challenge your current limitations. Invest your energy wisely. Embrace proven, science-backed methods that can transform your life. The journey beyond mediocrity is not only about achieving external success but also about finding inner peace, fulfillment, and joy.
Here are some practical steps to help you begin:
- Assess Yourself: Reflect on your current state. Identify areas where you feel stuck or unfulfilled.
- Set Clear Goals: Define what growth means to you. Set clear, achievable goals that align with your vision.
- Seek Knowledge: Continuously learn and apply new strategies. Read, attend workshops, and immerse yourself in growth-oriented environments.
- Take Action: Implement what you learn. Consistent, small actions can lead to significant transformations over time.
- Enlist Support: Surround yourself with a supportive community. Coaches and mentors can provide invaluable guidance and accountability. Find the right support for your growth stage. If you’re just starting out, then there are copious resources available—you can start anywhere! But if you, like me, were already performing at an elevated level, with recognized success, then you should consider finding a coach who understands the human psyche and brain and has a deep appreciation for the enormous (possibly limitless) potential in each of us.
If you’re ready to take the next step, I invite you to explore the resources and support available through my own work. Together, we can navigate this journey and unlock the potential within you. For more insights and guidance, visit my website at www.roddycarter.com.
Remember, growth is an ongoing, sequential journey pursued in leaps and bounds. To not grow is fatal. If you are suffering today, and can’t explain it, mediocrity is the most likely cause. But the good news is that there are deliberate, systematic strategies for maintaining growth, at pace. Growth always propels you to a next level, where life is invariably better, more fun, and more rewarding.
So don’t suffer. There is always a way out. There are many who leap forward from band to band, who will be very happy to guide you through the gaps to your own journey of growth!
[1] This is my term for a foundational model that underpins the unique approach I use for deep transformation with executive clients.
