It is an amazing experience when you witness excellence. It doesn't matter whether it is in sports, music, theater, medicine, innovation or your workplace, to name a few. Recently, I attended a community concert featuring a 200-member choir, all under the direction of Juilliard-trained conductors. The performance exceeded all my expectations and was a lesson in brilliance and excellence. This encounter prompted a self-reflective question: how often do people, driven by speed over quality, miss the opportunity to create excellence?

Today's podcast delves into the neuroscience behind why we default to mediocrity, citing our brain's energy. We will also discuss how challenging our comfort zones releases neurotransmitters that boost motivation and enhance learning, suggesting a weekly practice of boundary-pushing activities. The psychological concept of cognitive dissonance is also explored as a force that drives us from complacency to aspiration, alongside the habit loop's role in forming new patterns of excellence. What an incredible way to start out 2024 by committing to excellence as a foundational resolution for the new year.

QUOTES BY DR. BRAY "Try harder, be excellent, decline mediocrity." "Our ability to try is never out of our control." "Mediocrity is a product of our comfort."