No one is perfect. I’ve lost count of the times I have had to eat humble pie. And our mistakes are really what grows us.So then why don’t we embrace our mistakes, maybe even celebrate them? I know, crazy, right? But think about it. We have to go through the process of learning. And that requires mistakes. It’s going to happen.
I think my biggest lesson in life is to keep on keeping on. Keep being you, mistakes and all. And most importantly, be comfortable with who you are.
So often, we compare our insides to other people’s outsides. But, we don’t realize it. We know us inside and out. But unless others allow us to see inside of them, there is no comparison. Yet we compare. We dwell on our flaws, what we are not, rather than what we are, making it much harder for us to be happy.
When we look at others we never see all of their mistakes and flaws, because we are looking at their outsides only, what they show us. We don’t get to see or know everything they have been through, including their mistakes. I promise you, they do have an inside, just like us. But it can only be seen by them.
If we can learn to accept ourselves, warts and all, and be kinder to ourselves when things go wrong, it does increase our enjoyment of life. It is just that simple. Having constant criticism in our heads is a sure way to be unhappy. Not just with ourselves, but with others as well.
We shouldn’t ignore our weaker areas and become Pollyanna Positive about everything. But we should definitely spend more time accentuating the positive about ourselves and others, instead of dwelling on the stuff that isn’t so good. It is just a healthier mental attitude.
Don’t get me wrong. We need to improve and grow. We need to accept responsibility for our mistakes and that begins with maybe spending some time figuring out why it happened and how to keep it happening again. But beating ourselves up, breaking down our confidence and kicking ourselves around, isn’t going to help anything.
So what’s the first step? We need to learn to accept who we are, and learn to love, laugh and forgive our mistakes. We need to step up our understanding of why we do what we do and learn who we are based on scientific facts.
What? Know ourselves scientifically? YES!
Is that possible for the everyday person? YES!
Another natural result of learning about yourself scientifically is that you also strengthen your understanding of others. Because part of knowing yourself is understanding the effect you have on different types of people, you get to understand how you relate to others and it gives you an inside view of who they are and why they might do what they do.
Once you go through this process you look and talk to others in a different manner. You learn to understand the four basic behavior styles and what that looks like in others.
Look, there’s only one you. And no one else can be the judge of that.
So put your imperfections into perspective. Learn to see them as a part of your normal, rather than something that pulls you down. And move on. Get back to the good stuff.
Shift your focus from what you don’t have or can’t do and focus instead on what you have and can do. This also brings gratitude into your life and frees you to appreciate others even more.
It really is one step at a time. But it is worth climbing the stairs to a better, more successful life. So, get to know you! Identify your behavior style and begin to notice daily how you do what you do and what that brings into your life.
Get Your Greatness On!
Shari
Eager to take the next step on your leadership journey? Whether you’re breaking personal barriers with the “4 Things You Need to Know” mini-course, fostering a happy team through “Lead Your Legacy,” or supercharging your mindset with “Uncovering the Leader in You” and “Identifying the Leader in You,” I’ve got the tools you need. Dive into my online courses and start transforming your potential into impactful action today.
Sign up now! Visit the online courses link on the navigation bar above to enroll in a course of your choice and become the change you wish to see.