FIND SUCCESS WITHIN YOURSELF BY BEING YOURSELF

How might the world be different if transparency truly replaced the guarded face we typically present when interacting with others?  If we were to transform the tolerance we often painfully exhibit when others are “not like us” into unconditional acceptance, would the world become a better place?  If we could be more comfortable with who we are – readily exhibiting our strengths, acknowledging our shortcomings and intentionally acting to bring about positive change in ourselves and others – might we more readily accept differences, embrace the similarities and leverage the full potential of those around us? During a time of heightened awareness of equity perhaps we should reflect upon who we are, what we believe in or value and how we might be able to best make a difference by simply being ourselves.

Accepting “who we are” does not imply that change in the way we think, how we act and what we are able to accomplish is unnecessary.  An individual is not a static point within a sedentary world.  Life “happens” and we must anticipate, react and respond to the challenges it presents.  Being “who you are” today does not mean you should be the same tomorrow – nor does it assume you are the same today as you were yesterday.  We must accept our skills, abilities, values, ethics, standards and persona as they are today so we can build upon them as we move towards the future – using the present as a springboard to that which is to come rather than as a destination or culmination of all that has passed. 

While we may seek to be like those we view as being successful, we should never reject who we are by attempting to become someone we are not.  Trying to transform ourselves into someone else or into a persona that exists solely within our own imagination can become a frustrating investment and a waste of time that provides diminishing returns.  While we should express happiness for another’s accomplishments, we should not seek to establish our own sense of worth based upon or through their personal success.  We all learn from watching others but gain nothing by claiming their successes as our own or seeking to avoid all personal failure by allowing them to struggle.  Much growth can come from overcoming a personal defeat or shortcoming and learning from failure can become transformational.  Our worth should never be measured by how often we fall but rather by how successful we are at getting up, learning from our “lesson” and moving forward. 

In order to become all that we can be we must first identify and accept all that we are so we can move beyond the boundaries created by our present reality into the unlimited realm of future possibility.  We cannot fulfill our potential when we are so busy immersing ourselves in our past accomplishments or the achievements of others that we have no time to enjoy (or even see) our own successes.  If we wish to shed the cloak of mediocrity in our quest for excellence we should celebrate the progress we have made with the gifts we have been given rather than dwelling upon the things we do not have or have yet to accomplish.  Rather than worrying about the things we cannot yet do or the ideas we have yet to express, embrace the things we have accomplished and the value of the thoughts we routinely bring to fruition.  To make a difference in our own lives (AND in the lives of those around us) we must recognize “what is” while moving towards “what could be” AFTER considering “what has been” and examining  what has worked (and what has failed) in the past.  We must force ourselves to take two steps forward for every one we slip back – knowing it is not what we have nor what we have done that makes a difference, but rather what we have yet to do and have not yet accomplished.  Very little in life is impossible...impractical or fiscally irresponsible, perhaps, but not impossible...yet unless we accept that some things take a bit longer to accomplish than others we will become frustrated and give up before we are ready to move on. 

Successful individuals tend to achieve great things with and through others – gaining satisfaction from watching the accomplishments of others rather than seeking only the personal recognition and acknowledgement that their own thoughts or actions might generate.  Few respected individuals make decisions based solely upon what is best for themselves or their own future.  When we spend too much time tracking who is doing what to assign proper credit for everything that is done we end up taking more time orchestrating results than initiating or performing actions necessary to make things happen in a manner that benefits the whole.  It has been said that one must measure what has been to determine what could be yet it is also possible to identify and focus on past obstacles without seeing a solution beyond the history.

What you do is a greater indicator of who you are than anything you may be able to express in words.  If you do not “do what you say and say what you do,” you will probably never completely fulfill your potential.  If you try to live within the image of another or hide within their shadows, a misspoken word or unintended action will eventually reveal your true self as being different from what you project yourself to be.  It is best to be yourself in all you say and do because until (and unless) we allow others to view us as we are – to see the value we bring (and even the “baggage” we might carry) instead of allowing our contributions to be limited by what we feel they might expect – we will only be allowed to contribute what others think might be done rather than realizing what might truly be possible. 

As we seek and find success we should accept that while all things are possible some may not yet feasible as we refuse to be content with our position in life, continuously seeking those things not yet realized while moving forward along new avenues not yet explored.  When we begin to identify and fulfill our own potential we find that “being ourselves” is not such a bad thing – which is probably good because anyone else we might wish to become has already been taken.