Be Your Best

Be your best, live at your highest potential, grow to your full capacity. You may have heard phrases like these or even tried to live by them. Setting high standards for yourself. Trying to achieve or push yourself. It could be achieving a goal, having a prestigious job. It can be trying to be kind and thoughtful to others. There are so many aspects we can say to be your best. But what if you are already at your best? What if you have reached your max potential? What if where you are at is more than you ever could have expected? When is the right time to appreciate yourself and others for who they are and where they are? When is it time to expect more? Being your best can be motivating but it also can be an expectation that never allows you to appreciate things where they are right now.

Years ago, I was driving to work and there was this little car that was cutting people off, driving all over and seemed very chaotic. I thought wow what is wrong with them, try and drive better, pay attention, what are you doing? All the standard thoughts and criticisms came out as I was rushing myself to work. Then as I got closer to the car, I saw the license plate “BURBEST”. Yes, it actually said be your best. I burst out laughing and thought, well maybe that was their best at driving. That moment has stuck with me over the years. It was such a great example of maybe my best isn’t someone else’s best. Maybe someone was doing their best, not used to driving on the freeway or in heavy stressful traffic. Who was I to judge if they were doing their best at that moment?

That really put things in perspective when dealing with others or us and having high expectations or comparing. What might be easy for you might be super challenging for other people. What you think is giving it your all or working hard might be too much for someone else that isn’t used to that. Everyone has different capabilities levels, skill sets, motivation, expectation and pain tolerance. So, it is hard when someone puts their own standards on someone else. Or assume they are being lazy or not trying when maybe it is their best.

If you have had experiences in life with tough managers at work, super high expectations or being yelled at, you may have a high threshold for stress and even abusive behavior. But someone that has not experienced that before may not be able to handle a situation like that. You might think toughen up, try harder, but your minimum tolerance for that environment might be someone else’s exit point. If you are an empath and highly sensitive, you may be very attuned to others’ emotions and if they need anything. But someone else that is not as sensitive may not be attuned to your needs, may not show affection the same way. But maybe they are doing their best. So instead of expecting more from someone maybe try to understand if that is their highest capacity. If so, is that enough for you? Do you expect more and if so, maybe that is not the right partner, employee, friend and more.

Understanding and accepting when you or another person is at their best is so important. There is nothing more uncomfortable than another person always expecting more from you. For some making a small change might be monumental. But you may have higher expectations and think they are not trying. Try understanding a person’s background or experience. What are they capable of and what is their best? And do the same for yourself? Are you trying to align with a situation or person that is already at their best and you need more or vice versa? If so, it is better to align with things that either match your expectations or learn to accept people and situations at their current capacity.

Look at your life and see where you are being your best. Is it accepted, appreciated and celebrated? Or does it feel like it is never enough? Align with people and situations that match your abilities and expectations. Or discover accepting people or situations at their best. So instead of assuming someone doesn’t care, or is not trying, look at if they are at their best. We all have our limits of what feels comfortable. Find what works for you and be accepting and loving of your needs. Be Your Best.