Getting to be the person I want to be when I grow up is a process. I wish it were more like a self-actualizing feat of character and strength. Instead it is the disappointing acceptance that there are people out there living the life of my dreams and I am not them. It’s good to have that other; the more, better, faster crowd that reminds us of all that we can have in this world and what is possible. But more often than not, it is difficult to separate what we admire in others and what inadequacies we feel in ourselves. There are problems and challenges that everyone experiences in their lives, the difficulty is appreciating the private battles that others fight silently. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world we are all secretly warriors. Any number of experiences and situations test our resilience.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to see the world from the other side. Looking as we do from jaded personal perspective we forget who we are and how we got there. Negative self talk is easier to believe than the reality of our own greatness. When we embrace the negative image of ourselves we give ourselves permission not to succeed. If we believe that we are inadequate when compared to our peers, we never have to press ourselves to accomplish a goal. We tell ourselves, “It wouldn’t be as good as someone else’s work product anyway” to justify inaction. We create our own destiny and deem it mediocre.
Rather than seeing the multitude of ways in which we are fantastic, we judge ourselves harshly and imagine the rest of the world does the same. The only way to beat this challenge is to pursue the very goals that terrify us. We must accept that the very traits that separate us from one another are the inimitable and wondrous qualities that make what we bring to the table unique. It is entirely too easy to get down on ourselves.
Wanting always to be the exception or to set high standards is a noble objective. It is important to keep in mind that with globalization and the increasing size of the labor market it is consistently more difficult to get ahead. To prove ourselves worthy to; run in the right circles, attain a satisfying and challenging position, and embrace a positive sense of self worth we must consistently strive to do our personal best. Ignoring the strengths of others is not the answer. Be aware of competitors, but do not allow their successes to consume your thoughts or overwhelm your own accomplishments. It is fulfilling and rewarding to be the best version of yourself rather than a cheap mimicry of someone else. Embracing our individuality is the only way in which to take the world from a new and interesting direction. No one in the world can possibly do the job the same way you would, it’s important to remember this about the world and ourselves when focusing on who and what we want in life.
