A message from today’s meditation:
We’ve all felt the weight of unrealistic expectations, the pressure to constantly strive for more, to be more. This relentless pursuit of perfection can often lead to burnout, frustration, and a deep sense of inadequacy. But what if we could shift our perspective, release the pressure, and simply do our best?
We tend to have this warped overachiever idea that our “best” is only good enough if it is always getting better day-on-day, without any set-backs. If you haven’t read “The four agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz yet, I seriously suggest that you do! And even if you have read it before, I’ll remind you of the importance of this chapter:
“Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art.
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
Everything is alive and changing all the time, so your best will sometimes be high quality, and other times it will not be as good. When you wake up refreshed and energized in the morning, your best will be better than when you are tired at night. Your best will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick; it will depend on whether you are feeling wonderful and happy, or angry and upset.
Your best will also change over time, but keep doing your best — no more and no less than your best. If you try too hard to do more than your best, you will spend more energy than is needed and in the end your best will not be enough. When you overdo, you deplete your body and go against yourself, and it will take you longer to accomplish your goal.
If you just do your best, there is no way you can judge yourself. And if you don’t judge yourself there is no way you are going to suffer from guilt, blame, and self-punishment. If you have done your best and your inner Judge tries to judge you, you’ve got the answer: “I did my best.” There are no regrets. That is why we always do our best. It is not an easy agreement to keep, but this agreement is really going to set you free.
Also, go inside and listen to your body, because your body will never lie to you. Your mind will play tricks, but the way you feel in your heart, in your guts, is the truth.”
Thank you Don Miguel Ruiz!
Every human is an artist, a creator, and your whole life is the canvas. When we are presented with this idea we might think of Van Gogh, Picasso or any number of other recognized artists but that is just a very thin slice of what it is to create.
When speaking about what we’re creating, I often get this response, “I don’t create anything, I’m just a stay at home mom,” or “I’m not a creator, I just have a desk job.”
We are all creating every day! You are creating your life. The environment you create around you will have a direct impact on the people around you and of course, the inner environment that you have created is at the core of everything you do.
So while you set out to create this week, just do your best.
It’s impossible for your “best” to always be better than the day before and also, it’s not necessary. Every day you are given the opportunity to create, and all that is necessary is that you start every day with the same mantra again and again, “Today I will do my best.”
I wish you a week of fearlessly creating at your highest potential, while just doing your best… no more and no less.
Remember these mantras to guide your self-reflection:
- Embrace imperfection: Accept that you are human and that mistakes are inevitable.
- Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself, especially when you fall short of your expectations.
- Focus on progress, not perfection: Celebrate small victories and acknowledge your growth.
- Let go of the need to control: Surrender to the flow of life and trust the process.
- Do your best, no more, no less: Give your all, but don’t exhaust yourself.
Every human is an artist, a creator. Our lives are the canvas upon which we paint our masterpieces. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, a corporate executive, or a creative visionary, you are constantly creating something. You’re creating your relationships, your environment, and most importantly, your own reality.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Jumpstart the week!