Defining “Your Best”

“Just do your best.”

I always hated that phrase, because how am I supposed to know what that means?

“It means laying everything you have out on the field.

It means giving it all you got.”

- They say

And who is measuring? Me?

I don’t want to do that everyday..

That sounds exhausting.

When someone would say, “all you can do is your best”, I would look back at the day and see holes where I could have done better.

There was an hour of TV that could have been taken out.

There was time spent on social media where I should have been working.

When I called it quits on the workout I could have probably gone for one more round.

When I was out riding my bike I should have practiced my skill work more.

I probably shouldn’t have spent so much time on that blog post or reel, I really need to be faster.

There are always things that could have gone better.

My best, in my mind, equaled perfection.

And when people told me to do my best, it overwhelmed me, because I knew how many distractions I had to face and how many mental and physical hurdles could possibly come up, not to mention everything outside of me.

I hated that phrase.

It always left me feeling like I could have, and SHOULD have done more.

But you know what?

We need a SERIOUS REFRAME of our “best”. 

Especially if you are hard on yourself like I was.

Especially for all of the perfectionists out there.

LISTEN UP:

Your best can include the distractions.

Your best can change and evolve.

Your best can account for what your energy level is that day.

Your best does not mean you have to be completely depleted and used up.

Your best is showing up for you.

Your best is taking care of yourself.

Your best is pushing your limits when you feel ready.

Your best is allowing compassion when you’re not.

Your best INCLUDES rest.

Your best can look different every. single. day.

Your best is learning from yesterday, not shaming for it.

Your best allows for mistakes.

Your best ≠ perfection.

When you get to the end of the day, look at all the ways in which you DID do your best.

Not at all the things that weren’t perfect.

Be proud of yourself.

You’re best is enough.