I prayed hard that it would be tuberculosis, the lesser evil of the two. So I break it into parts and look for opportunities to walk a little, since every step counts. Am I facing my fears? Labels are for clothing. Do I agree with a mediocre mindset just to fit in? Cars, phones, computers, technology are all becoming better each day. Like “About all you can do in life is be who you are. Are they reflecting who I believe I am and who I want to be? It is quite naive to assume that popularity is the remedy for loneliness. I prayed that if I passed this test I’d be a reformed person. Who and what am I attracting everyday into my life? However, are you really thinking about it? Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice." When I was interested in people, I could make a positive difference in their day, which in turn made me more content. After two months of inaction we rushed to the doctor. Over last one year I gave up wearing my watch to slow down a bit. My child wouldn’t think about whether I’d be late to work and would take ages to get dressed while I was waiting for him. Loneliness does not necessarily equal physical solitude, it is the inability to be oneself and rightfully represented as oneself.”, “Labels are for filing. I developed a list to help me be a better person today than yesterday. Working through my anger with people, life, and my circumstances was the toughest in the list to do—but also the most beneficial. “To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.”, “You’ll learn, as you get older, that rules are made to be broken. I developed empathy for people who had less than me. How am I responding to my self-talk or others if it’s negative? I’m addicted to nostalgic feelings and it only makes me feel worse, I guess. Were there any negative experiences today from which I could learn? It’s an incredible feeling reading back and realizing you’re creating momentum in your personal and business life. There's something in those people that breaks down all the barriers, because they act completely the way they are, have nothing to hide, never shelter behind anything, are just themselves, straightforward.”, The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Younger by the Day: 365 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Body and Revitalize Your Spirit. Artists transcend their environment and stand out.”, “When the times are a crucible, when the air is full of crisis, those who are the most themselves are the victims.”, “You will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it.”, “Middle school is for being like everyone else; middle age is for being like yourself. She is passionate about writing and loves to write in newspapers, magazines, research articles, and blogs. If you’d like to start being the best version of yourself now, ask yourself: 1. I started being kind, less arrogant, gentler, and more positive in life. And don't give a second thought when people mock it or ridicule it. Advice for dealing with acceptance of pain and going back to a routine/schedule, How Illness Can Be Lonely and What to Do About It, What Helped Me the Most When I Thought My Life Was Over, Why Long-Term Love Feels Boring and Why It’s Actually Not, Flip the Script: How to Overcome Your Negative Thoughts, How Marijuana Was Great for My Anxiety and Why I Stopped Using It. Laugh in the face of adversity, and leap before you look. By setting aside some time daily to reflect on my behaviors, I have created an opportunity for myself to grow. 11. I always thought the world revolved round me. I was a very impatient person, and a slave to the clock. The biopsy proved it was TB, frightening but still curable, and not as intimidating as cancer. We hear it over and over; you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. In life, there’s only grey – no bad guys, no good guys. “Follow your heart, listen to your inner voice, stop caring about what others think.”― Roy T. Bennett. More than anything else that matters in life, it’s your own character that counts. I decided I didn’t need it. Some people are like that. (430)”, “You need not search for uniqueness, you are unique already. Aim to be the truest version of you. I just couldn’t grasp what it meant though. I stopped thinking about time wasted in past since thinking about it now wastes time today. It’s a journey of body, mind and spirit and to move forward, focus needs to be on all three. 2494 likes. Maybe you were just born with it.”, “Nothing can be more hurtful to your heart than betraying yourself.”, “So from now on, screw "perfect." None of us are born with fixed habits. Endorse it. Welcome back. Shouldn’t we? Labels are not for people.”, “Fairy tales thrive on black and white. Work hard at it. Do I view it as an opportunity to grow, or as a problem and self-victimize, becoming stuck in the situation? This one is an instant mood booster, which allows us to be better for the people around us. Almost all of them changed after a life threatening experience or a negative experience. Who you spend time and talk with influences your own thought processes subconsciously. Become the best and create the life you want. Energy and attitude – am I waking up ready to make an impact? Write down your goals, your thoughts, ideas, advice, trainings, etc. And stubbornly refuse to fit in.”, “If you learn to really sit with loneliness and embrace it for the gift that it is…an opportunity to get to know YOU, to learn how strong you really are, to depend on no one but YOU for your happiness…you will realize that a little loneliness goes a LONG way in creating a richer, deeper, more vibrant and colorful YOU.”, “There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a person being themselves. That’s the ultimate goal. As an example for each; body – having a healthy and balanced daily diet allows for energy, clarity, mood, etc. I appreciated each day we lived. As of July 1, LinkedIn will no longer support the Internet Explorer 11 browser. Do I know my why and has it changed over the past six months? Now I’m able to be my best version of me in my everyday life—not just on the yoga mat. I realized that sometimes I might be too tied up for an hour workout. Why would you continue to compromise something that's beautiful to create something that is fake?”, “When you are living the best version of yourself, you inspire others to live the best versions of themselves.”, “Confidence is knowing who you are and not changing it a bit because of someone’s version of reality is not your reality.”, “To be deeply loved, means a willingness to cut yourself wide open, exposing your vulnerabilities... hopes, hurts, fears and flaws. It's not about me. Love it. Did I genuinely show interest in what other people were saying? “I always wanted to be someone better the next day than I was the day before.” ~Sidney Poitier. 12. Did I give them the attention they deserved when they spoke? A circle is always perfect, “more” is not needed.”, “He impressed people. Do we all need bad experiences to change for better? It could be thanking a colleague for help given. It is just like the word “circle.” Circles exist; there is no such thing as “more circular.” That is absurd. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. Who are you? The words “more unique” are absurd. “Always be a first-rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.”– Judy Garland. I began to observe people who had made positive changes in their lives. One day my husband developed a lump near his neck, and we ignored it thinking it was a silly little thing. Shivani Parikh is a faculty at a premier b-school. “Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.” ― Judy Garland tags: be-yourself, greatness, individuality. I was at a point recently where I asked myself ‘What does it actually mean to be the best version of yourself”?. “When you are living the best version of yourself, you inspire others to live the best versions of themselves.” ― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience The treatment went on for almost a year, and my husband recovered. Though I run this site, it is not mine. LinkedIn recommends the new browser from Microsoft. Now every time I look at my wrist out of habit to check the time, having no watch reminds me to slow down. Might sound cliché, however there is power in this statement. I regretted my ruthless ways and wished to atone. Never did I take life for granted. Lead How to Be the Best Version of You "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. I try to forget and forgive nasty remarks made by a friend, boss, neighbor, or my husband. In business we follow the principle of “continuous improvement.” It’s time we replicate the same in our lives. Maybe our sparkle comes from somewhere deeper inside, somewhere so pure and authentic and REAL, it doesn’t need gloss or polish or glitter to shine.”, “Live authentically. GET MORE FUN & INSPIRING IMAGES & VIDEOS. You could be the Cheshire cat, Snow White, a troll or a pastry-making witch whose diet consists only of little kids, but you’ll always be you.”, “If you aim to be something you are not, you will always fail. If you want to be your best version of you more often, write your answers to the following questions: I feel like my best version of me when… How I feel about myself when I’m the best version of me… It’s easier to be my best version of me when… Aim to look and act and think like you. Being conscious and self-aware – am I actively listening to my self-talk and others around me? I would value this life more than I ever did. It was our life at stake. “Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.” —Coco Chanel. And do I do the same for others? I started enjoying the beauty around me. At first you may not realize it, however once you pick up on it, your mind will start to automatically alert you. I could never see beauty in mountains, trees, flowers, the sea, or the sky. I try hard to get rid of my bad habits and develop good ones. I never questioned the wisdom of blindly zooming through the day. Be the best version of you image via Shutterstock. I can’t be a better person today if I am stuck on my bad yesterday. Work it! Every night I would ask myself a few questions: Am I any better today than I was yesterday? We take a look at how important it is to be yourself, to be original when the whole world is trying to change you according to its needs. mind – listening to someone doing what you want to do better than you daily, i.e. I keep trying to improve my character through good thoughts and more importantly, good deeds. Most gossip is envy in disguise.”, “Ordinary people are products of their environment and fit in. If you’d like to start being the best version of yourself now, ask yourself: I try to reflect on whether I talked or listened more today. I'm not. The word cancer brought about stress like we’ve never experienced before. Unconsciously. Going on lots of vacations, eating at posh places, and focusing on next big house were my ideas of a good life. If you don't laugh at jokes, you probably laugh at opinions.”, “We're all pretty bizarre. I hear it all the time from my mentors, business partners, local lifestyle community, personal development books and audio. 14. I had a great husband, a lovely child, a nice house and cars. 13. Better to be a nerd than one of the herd!”, “Everyone has a sense of humor. I stopped regretting mistakes; I needed to move on. OWN it! I studied in one of the best colleges in my country and went on to do my MBA from another best in the country. Do I listen and involve in gossip? I developed a list to help me be a better person today than yesterday.