Your Best is Not Good Enough
Your Best is not the best that you have to give and you know it.
I know it, we all know it. Even I know that there is more for me to give and do in this life. I know all too well that I can and should be pushing myself to be more, do more, and have more. I also know that there is more for me to contribute to the world and those around me.
But, consider what has come to be acceptable…
We live in a world where it has become acceptable to do the bare minimum. We are surrounded by people who cringe at the idea of doing more, being more, and having more. You hear people rationalize their reasonings for not wanting to do something all the time–as if mediocrity should be the standard. If you, within a group, try to deviate from the standard or the status quo, you get backlash and criticism for wanting to step outside the box and be better.
People tend to get defensive, and so they should. It’s a stab at their ego and no one wants to be told that they need to do better. They already know it.
I wrote a recent post on 15 Ways to Get People to Love and Admire You. In that post I argued against saying things that damage a persons ego. These principles are based off of Dale Carnegie’s book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” where a lot of what he teaches rings true. People have very fragile egos and of course, we want people to like and love us quite naturally.
While at the same time I suggest that you be tactful in how you deal with people, I’m also not suggesting that you shy away from pushing people to step up to the plate.
You see, we already live in a world where most people are struggling and don’t have enough.
We live in a world where people are suffering from deep rooted issues that have lead to record numbers of people suffering from depression and sadness, and these things are robbing people of happiness and joy.
We live in a world where the masses are financially strained on a daily basis. People are having a hard time making ends meet, keeping up with financial obligations, and making sure they have enough money at the end of the week to live an enjoyable life.
We are constantly bombarded with threats of diseases and pandemics, racial and socio-economic inequality is at an all-time high, and it seems like the world could come to an end any day now.
So what reason do we have to succumb to the challenges of life?
None.
There is nothing valuable about not giving your best in this life that you are living–absolutely nothing. Somehow, we have to find a way to give more than we’re giving right now. Honestly, it should be a personal responsibility to yourself and those around you to be better. To excel.
It’s also good to have people around you that will push you to be better, and people that you can push just the same. Playing small just to fit in with others is the fastest way to being just like everyone else. Do you desire to be authentically you or do you want to play on the level of everyone else in the hopes of being liked and fitting in?
Have you really thought about what is important to you?
Keep in mind that you have to consider the odds of your being able to go for and successfully do what you are desiring and dreaming of. The truth is that most people will never see their full potential. Just look at the world around you. Are the majority of your friends and colleagues truly happy and fulfilled every day they wake up? Are you surrounded by love? Are you surrounded by people who want to succeed and go higher?
We all have friends and colleagues that we went to school with and grew up with, and of course I’m not telling you to sever friendships, but part of your growth, development, and your ability to excel will be determined by the quality of the people you have relationships with.
You only have one life and your best is not good enough. There is more for you to do and have, and there is more for you to be in this life that you are living. You should never allow anyone to convince you otherwise, and be thankful for the people in your life that push you to reach and accept a higher standard of yourself. These are people that you need in your life when everyone else is telling you to settle.
Think about it. Be great in 2015 and go find your ultimate life!
#CantaveTalk
Stay in Love, and Peace.
