It’s a work in progress.
So the question is, have you been giving your best?
If you have any doubts and you feel you could do more. Here’s what I think?
So the first practical thing I would do on my journey of doing my best is to reframe the idea of ‘best.’ Instead of viewing it as a static
benchmark, see it as a dynamic and ever-evolving process. Recognize that your best today might not be the same as your best tomorrow. Embrace the notion that improvement is a journey, not a destination. This perspective relieves the pressure to achieve perfection and opens the door to continuous growth and self-discovery.
Another thing I noticed on my quest to do my best is the practice of “productive discontent.” Allow yourself to feel a healthy dissatisfaction with your current accomplishments, not out of self-criticism, but as a driver for progress. Channel this discontent into setting ambitious yet achievable goals, and approach them with a
strategic mindset. By leveraging dissatisfaction constructively, you propel yourself forward, surpassing what you once thought was your best to your actual best.
By now, you’re realizing giving your best requires a degree of vigilance. The path to exceeding our best is paved with consistent micro-improvements. If I was to ascribe my success to anything, it would be this philosophy. Kaizen, a Japanese concept that advocates continuous small changes, is a powerful tool. Identify areas in your life where you can make incremental enhancements and commit to taking daily, measurable actions towards your goals. The
cumulative impact of these seemingly minor changes will surprise you, pushing you beyond your previous limits.
Giving your best demands stepping outside
your comfort zone. Embrace the unfamiliar, as growth and transformation lie beyond the boundaries of the familiar. Seek out opportunities that scare you, for it is in discomfort that you cultivate resilience and adaptability. Stretching your boundaries will not only help you achieve breakthroughs but also redefine your perception of what you are truly capable of accomplishing.
Let me leave you with this thought that eloquently sums up what we’ve been talking about.
“The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our
complacency; not in our doing too much, but rather in our doing too little; not in our living above our ability, but rather in our living below our capacities.” — Benjamin E. May.
Be Your Own Hero.