Survival of the Good Enough

Evolutionary biologists use the term fitness to describe how effectively organisms pass genes to offspring, not how strong or athletic they appear in daily life.

Many animals, including praying mantises and other species with risky mating behavior, prioritize reproduction even at the cost of individual survival in specific contexts.

Most organisms survive and reproduce without being the absolute best at every task, because evolution rewards adequacy rather than perfection or dominance.

Different organisms, and even different individuals within a species, thrive in different environments because traits are context dependent rather than universally superior.

Humans can change jobs, communities, and countries, using cultural flexibility to find environments that fit their strengths better than their current setting.

People who feel inadequate or outcompeted can use evolutionary context to reframe their value and sense of belonging over time.