Hi, welcome back to

your Daily Mindfulness.

In today's session, we're going

to talk about which is better,

being a small fish in a big pond

or a big fish in a small pond.

In the personal development space,

you often hear teachers encourage

you to surround yourself with folks

who are performing at a higher level.

I've definitely seen the

merit to this advice and I've

seen the potential drawbacks.

When it comes to our growth, one of the

most important things that motivates

and sustains action is self-efficacy,

our belief that we can do something

which is often first developed

by experiencing small successes.

And if we only surround ourself

with people who have reached a

much higher level of expertise,

it may be discouraging.

Instead of inspiring us to new

heights, they can make us feel

that the task is insurmountable.

Goal setting research by Edwin Locke

supports this as well, suggesting

that a goal must feel attainable,

which is connected to the difficulty

of the goal and our self-efficacy

in order for us to feel sustained

motivation towards that goal.

Since the overwhelming narrative

still seems to be only surround

yourself with the best.

In other words, be a small fish

in a big pond, I just want it

to add some nuance to that.

It's suggesting that it's not only

okay, but potentially in the best

interests of your overall growth to

spend time as a big fish in a small pond.

This could be especially true if

you've struggled with self-esteem,

self-worth, and self-confidence.

As your self-efficacy grows,

you can explore other settings

that challenge you in new ways.

I hope this helps as you

navigate your growth journey.

And may we be the best

fish that we can be.

Thank you so much for your practice.

Let's settle in for today's meditation.