BEST

“If you gave it your best, then you shouldn’t be disappointed” How many times have you heard that phrase? Well I’m going to flat out tell you that it’s a lie. Well… not quite, because the statement itself is somewhat true, the difference is in how each of us defines “giving your best”.

A true competitor know that even if he/she wins a race, or a competition there is still something left for he/she to give. Let’s take a footrace for example; if the competitor is still alive after the race, ok maybe not that extreme, is still left standing after the completion of the race then there is more that the competitor could have given; they did not perform at their best. Now if they are satisfied with the “subpar” performance then that’s completely ok. Usain Bolt in the 2008 Olympics did not give his all in the 100 meter dash; he celebrated across the finish line in style, and STILL broke a world record. Should he be disappointed in his performance? No. Did he give his best? No. There is so much more each of us could give if only we cared more.

Now life isn’t a straight-line race to the finish line. It’s more like a multi-dimensional maze with pitfalls, forks, cliffs, and peaks. There are many resources to help us navigate this maze, and the mastery of navigating portions of this maze is what I like to call giving your best.

Most of us like to talk about what we were or what we are going to be. We usually never talk about what we are, because if we did then we wouldn’t be so insecure about ourselves. We all have things in life that we wish we could change, and a way to minimize these insecurities is by being the best you that you can be.

“Now Shaek not everyone can run a hundred meters in 9.51 seconds” That is true, but if you are trying to run a hundred meters and your body isn’t built for running (aka. Short and stubby) then you really aren’t being the best you that you can be. You can get a squirrel to drive a car, but it isn’t going to be a Lewis Hamilton anytime soon; you should spend some time trying to find out what make you, you; what drives you, inspires you to live not just exist. But giving your best and being your best doesn’t happen overnight usually; it’s a process that is refined over time and a crucial step in discovering yourself. When you find what truly drives and inspires that flame in you, you will be on that path to being the best you that you can be.

In most circumstances however, giving your best will be enough to succeed in anything you set your mind to. This is because most people do not give their best in any circumstance. Before they can get to that point their mind tells them that they can take no more. However, this is simply not true. By stretching what your mind believes you are capable of you will be on the path to give your best in everything in life. I’ll get back to finishing that black tea I started on, I heard a combination of ginger and lemon makes it taste even better than it already does.