The Surprising Reason Why "Good" is the Enemy of Great!

The Surprising Reason Why "Good" is the Enemy of Great!

"It's all right, but it's far from great."

We've all been there! I first heard the term "Region-Beta paradox" in Dan Gilbert's book "Stumbling on Happiness."

The "Region-Beta paradox" - is a state where we are comfortable enough to endure something but not uncomfortable enough to do anything impactful that would create real change.

I can relate. During my twenties and early thirties, toxic tolerance accompanied me in my romantic and business relationships.?

You may have experienced the "Region-Beta paradox" in a job without meaning or purpose, but it pays the bills. Or perhaps you're in a relationship that's lost its spark, and even though it feels pretty empty, it's too comfortable/convenient to leave.

You could be a founder, and the company is doing all right, but you know we can do better. Maybe you have an employee who doesn't belong, but at least they do the job.

Humans are often caught in the tragic limbo of "it's not that bad,"?it’s a place where dreams go to die.

Comfortably Numb

The Cost of Inaction

But you may ask yourself, why bother changing if leaving limbo could be costly? The answer is simple but not always easy: Staying where we are comfortably numb leads to a life of mediocrity; days will blend into years of a "blah" existence.?

Caught in this paradox means unfulfilled needs, dreams, and possibilities become the defining factor of our lives. The danger is not in the immediate discomfort but in the long-term regret of not pursuing what truly matters.

The Potential Trap.

We like to see ourselves as seeing the best in people, and we should do that. However, "potential" can be a trap. You could keep someone on the team (or in a relationship) because they have so much potential. However, we know that most people will only step into their potential once there is enough pain. (It's why your "ex" became a better person after you broke up).?


Solution

The solution lies in acknowledging this paradox and understanding that 'good enough' will eventually bite you in the arse!

It's about stepping into discomfort because the alternative to short-term discomfort is long-term agony.

Start small - set tangible goals, seek new experiences, or have honest conversations about your needs and desires and whether they are being met.


Most Importantly, Get Help!

I Choose Purpose over Pride

just as a fish cannot describe water! You cannot (because NO ONE can) even see the depth you are already drowning in the "Region-Beta paradox."

All right, let's make this real! Here are three practical tips to integrate what you've learned here:

Embrace the Uncomfortable:

  1. Shake up your comfort zone! Challenge yourself daily with something small yet new. It can be as simple as breaking your routines. For example, (I know it sounds silly, but) try this: If you usually put on your left sock first, change it up. Finish your warm shower by having a ten-second cold shower. Take a different route to work. These things take us out of automatic and allow our brains to build new neuropathways. Little ripples create big waves!
  2. Dump Tolerance: We've all been trained to be tolerant, and yes, of course, we need to be kind and compassionate, but not tolerant. We must reevaluate 'good enough' because comfort/convenience kills us. When things are "not that bad," we fear that if we do anything, it could get worse. What we fail to realize is that comfort is the slow death that sucks the life out of us more effectively than Dracular at a blood bank.
  3. Seek Your Squad: You're not alone in this! Sometimes, we're too close to our situation to see it. Find an advisor, a mentor, or someone who will tell you the hard truths you need to hear. Talk to people who inspire you! They can be your mirror to show what's possible and support you when you leap. Together, you can turn 'comfortably numb' into 'passionately alive.'
  4. Bonus Tip: Do not Take Advice From Stuck People...Misery loves company!


By confronting the?Region-Beta Paradox,?you open doors to a life of greater fulfillment and purpose. Imagine waking up each day feeling aligned with your soul's purpose and experiencing deeply satisfying relationships.

Every moment given to "it's not that bad" steals your joy and the powerful positive impact you can bring to the world!

Tell me, how you have (or are) experiencing the Region-Beta Paradox? What strategies have you used to break free from the 'comfortably numb' phase??

Share your tips and insights in the comments below - your story could be the nudge someone needs to embark on their journey of change!

I trust you found this article valuable; feel free to send this to your friends.?I eagerly anticipate your feedback and comments.

Ready to?unlock your?Emotional Source Code?and drive innovation within your organization??

Contact?Dov Baron ?today?and take the first step towards a more inclusive and innovative corporate culture.

With gratitude, respect, and curiosity, Dov…


About Dov Baron

Dov Baron?Guides Organizations, Leaders, and Teams to Create Fiercely Loyal Cultures of Belonging and Facilitate Authentic Communication to Generate Spectacular Innovation.

He is the leading authority on?Emotional Source Code? and the?Anatomy of Meaning?.?He has been named?5x of the world's Top 30 Global Leadership Gurus and twice by Inc. Magazine's Top 100 Leadership Speakers.

He?guides leaders, Icons, businesses, and teams?to harness their Emotional Source Code to create tribes of belonging that generate innovation, authentic communication, and fierce loyalty.

Dov Baron, Actualizer: Meaning Authority, Advisor to Leaders and Icons:

Dov Baron...

“Control The Meaning, and You Control The Movement!”

* Top30 Global Leadership Guru

* IncMag Top100 LeadershipSpeaker

* ???#1 Fortune500 Podcast

* Independent Contributor: Medium, ??Entrepreneur Mag

Find Dov here on LinkedIn and?DovBaron.com

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Dov Baron... The Science of Emotion

Transformational Catalyst Serving Elite Individuals Wanting What's Missing. Bestselling Author |Speaker | Consultant Guiding Organizations and Leaders to Create Purpose-Driven Cultures Using The Emotional Source Code!

9 个月

Wisnu, thank you for sharing this

B. Akeela Davis (She/Her)

We are on a mission to enable women business owners in Technology to transform their workforce into a profit powerhouse, without burnout.

11 个月

I used to deal with negative emotions by minimizing or compartmentalizing them and stuffing them into a container to be dealt with later. Later, it always came as an eruption when the container could not handle it anymore. It was never pretty, seldom cathartic, and often made me feel worse because I now had guilt to add to the container. Eventually, I learned a way that effectively works for me without guilt, judgment, or excuses. The key is courageously dealing with those troubling emotions or issues as soon as possible. This #framework is effective for #organizations and #individuals and is flexible in its execution. #ADICO A - acknowledgment of feelings/issues without judgment D -decision to deal now or delay the processing of the issue I - immerse yourself in understanding the emotion/ issue C - curiosity is key to the foundation of the emotion or issues. O - Outcome and next steps, if necessary. To paraphrase Ammhad Kahn in this post, it frees the user from the "Trap of Discomfort".

Dov Baron... The Science of Emotion

Transformational Catalyst Serving Elite Individuals Wanting What's Missing. Bestselling Author |Speaker | Consultant Guiding Organizations and Leaders to Create Purpose-Driven Cultures Using The Emotional Source Code!

11 个月

Big Shoutout and Warm Welcome to Some of Our Latest #linkedincommunity. I look forward to your feedback, and of course, feel free to share this newsletter with anyone you feel would value it. Michael Vukelic, Chetan Patel, Ed Muzio, Lynn Myhal, Ph.D., M.C.C. Mandolen Mull, Ph.D. Darene Kent Tejada, Julie A. Becker DBA, MBA, BSN, RN, Mahzabeeyn M. Jibran Jawaid, Boubaker Rjeb, Ekta Vyas Ph.D, Ildar Rakhmatulin, PhD, Shelley Ceridwen Doyle, nashirul haque shishir, Akeela B. Davis (She/Her), hasti azhirak, Becca Banyard, Carlos Ramalho, Aneta Hudson, Mark Doherty, Mohnish Katre, Nicole. N. Rasolo, Susan K Younger, David Eisler, Gerry Bellerive

回复

Boy, have I been there! "Toxic Tolerance" - it is a thing. Extremely well said, excellent tips. So many will benefit from reading this, I gotta share.

Anne Beaulieu

I am the voice of AI for high-profile experts and thought leaders. Ask me how.

12 个月

I used to tell myself "It's not that bad." when I felt scared. I thought that if I said it, it would remove some of the fear. However, it had the opposite effect: I felt even more scared and alone. Through deep mentoring, I understand that saying "It's not that bad" is a form of denying expression to what we are feeling and experiencing. So if I ever hear my mind say, "It's not that bad," I immediately reply with "It is that bad," and I listen to what comes up and take action to heal it.

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