Becoming the BETTER YOU... BET ON YOURSELF!
Throughout the history of mankind, we have adapted to circumstances, situations, and external influences beyond our control to be the most successful animal on the planet. We have even overcome and adapted to many diseases that would have once been fatal. We can inhabit the most rugged and intense environments this planet has to offer. Hell, we have even been able to leave this planet and walk on the moon. Human beings are so extremely powerful even more than we know. We as human beings have been able to do this through our ability to LEARN.
Time & Energy
Our ability to learn is the foundation for our success in everything we do. Whether that be from behavior, other’s behavior, or what we have been taught. We have the ability to learn from other’s mistakes so we do not have to make the same. We have the ability to skip the trail and error stage of taking on new tasks, activities, and understandings by learning from those before us. This saves us an extreme amount of time and energy. Both time and energy are finite. This is talked about in more detail in the book “The Selfish Gene”. To summarize the research and data in Richard Dawkin’s book is this: We do not have enough time on this planet to become exceptional by learning from making our own mistakes. In today’s world, we can borrow the life lessons, teachings, and knowledge from all of the people before us to accelerate our learning. By doing this, we can learn and progress as not only an individual but also as a race as a whole at a rapid pace. If we want to grow, it is vital that we understand this one fact. We, as individuals, DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS.
Becoming The Better You
Let’s get deep here and let’s get real. The “Better You” is a fun term to say or think about, but I want you to ingrain this idea in your head as a way of life. Ghandi talks about three levels of understanding and acquiring knowledge. I don’t want to go in to much detail about that here, but for this purpose I want you to know that the goal is to get to that third level. The third level is where what you have been taught or understand becomes a part of who you are.
Now, back to the topic at hand. Becoming the better you is different for everyone. We all have goals, standards, aspirations, and dreams that are unique to us as individuals based on our values. Before you can think about “The BETTER YOU” I want you to consider your goals and I want you to try this exercise called “The 7 levels deep” method. Before you can use the method you have to be extremely honest with yourself. Write down your goals. Everything you want to do, the person you want to become, how your dream life looks for you, and the things you want to have. Now that you have these down, lets get to the 7 levels which will give “The Better You” a North Star to point to.
7 Levels Deep exercise
The very first level I want to ask you.. WHY is it important that you get those items, become that person, live that way, and do those things?
It is perfectly natural to give a scholar type answer as if it was coming straight out a book. Your chivalrous response here is just fine as it is probably the one you have been telling yourself for a while.
Now, lets go a little deeper. I want you to ask yourself the question this time. Why? It is a question to the response you gave to me on level 1.
Write down your answer every time you answer this question. It is important as we want to get you out of your head and into your heart.
You will continue to ask yourself the question why every time you answer the previous level’s why question and write it down. It will take you a few levels (probably 4 or 5) until you finally get to the answers from your heart. Trust me, 6 will feel like enough but you must ask that question one more time. WHY?
Once you get to the 7th Level and you have answered that final why question… I want you to write it down. Circle it. Highlight it. Whatever you need to do. This my friend is your North Star. This is the proof from your heart of what truly matters to you. We all have bad days but this will give you the strength to push on because you will know there is absolutely no way you can give in because of your North Star.
Alright lets move on from here..
Becoming the better version of you is a full time gig. If you want to be the better you you must avoid these two characteristics described by one of the greatest investors of all time Charlie Munger.
YOU CANNOT BE A SLOTH and YOU CANNOT BE UNRELIABLE. A sloth is slow, never gets much done, procrastinates, etc. The reliability one is straight forward. Be true to your word. That is all you have. Do the work that others will not. If you want to live the life that no one else has, you must do the shitty, hard work that no one else is willing to do. Period. Go above and beyond. Be exceptional. If you want to be remarkable, you HAVE TO DO remarkable things and have remarkable habits. It is not a part time thing. It is a full time thing.
Lets take a step back now and look at our own lives. Let’s imagine a scenario where we are interviewing for our dream position knowing everything we know about ourselves. Our current habits, standards, and actions we take every day. Be brutally honest… would you hire you? Would you be the best person for that job? If not, start implementing the habits and lifestyles of those you look up to. Look to the people who have already attained what you want. What do they do? How do they carry themselves? Start implementing their positive behaviors in your life until you get to the point where you are not only talking about it, but you are living it my friend!
Now, ask yourself this question. What would the better version of me do today to get me closer to achieving my why? What would the better me do? WWBMD? Ask yourself this question from the time you wake up to the time you pass out at night. Funny thing is, we already know what we should be doing. So, we already know what the better version of us would be doing with our precious time and energy. We know the better version of ourselves would be getting stuff done, going above and beyond all others. Ask yourself this question, and I guarantee it will change your approach and perspective to everything.
BET ON YOU
You know what the better you looks like now. You know why you want the things you do and you understand how important it is you learn every day from those who came before you so you can grow quickly. You know the impact of positive and negative behaviors. Those skeletons can only be in the closet so long so let them go. You are free to do whatever you want to do in this life. You are in control of your destiny and your happiness. YOU HAVE TO BET ON YOU. Les Brown said, “If no one else sees it for you. If no one else supports your goals and dreams, you have to see it for yourself.” Their will be negative talk, backlash, people calling you crazy, etc. You have to bet on yourself that you are doing the right thing because it matters to you and it is worth it all. There is no better feeling that proving those folks wrong. You only get there by taking the shit in the mean time. Trust me, the shit makes it all the more worth it. My father told me “Hard work trumps all”. And yes, even in todays world that still rings true. Nothing beats hard work, ever.
Let’s make a pact with each other now. Let’s work hard for our dreams and goals. Let’s be relentless. Let us never stop no matter the obstacle. Let us remind ourselves every day of who the Better Version of ourselves are. Let us not worry about those around us. We must stay in our lane. I will leave you with one of my most favorite quotes from Dwayne Johnson. “Stay hungry. Stay humble. And work harder than anyone else in the room”.
Let’s pray we do not find ourselves in the same room.
