Psychologists suggest that aiming for average rather than exceptional may lead to long-term happiness. Research shows that individuals who constantly seek the best option in every decision tend to be less satisfied and more stressed than those who settle for "good enough." Ordinary experiences, such as daily rituals and everyday moments, have been found to bring more happiness and accumulate into a coherent life story. Choosing intrinsic goals, like relationships and personal growth, over extrinsic goals, such as status and image, has also been linked to higher well-being.

In practice, this means making enough decisions instead of perfect ones, prioritizing ordinary joy through repeatable experiences, choosing environments where one can contribute and feel competent, and focusing on intrinsic goals rather than performative perfection. The reframing of average as not the enemy of ambition but as the key to a livable life is supported by strong findings in modern well-being science, suggesting that insisting on exceptional may hinder happiness in the long run.