The Path to the Strongest Version of Yourself
In our lifetime, we are all witnesses to how the greatest of athletes achieved discipline and success beyond what was normal.
We are amazed by their greatness whenever we witness a championship game or when a record is broken which propels that athlete to the top.
More than the accomplishments, I think one of the reasons why we are being drawn to these people is because they are able to pinpoint their passion and be good at what they do.
It’s not just limited to athletes, but there are musicians, artists, skilled workers, business people, and notable figures who excel in their chosen fields.
They are fascinating because these people achieve to be the best version of themselves. And as we watch them, admit it or not, we look upon ourselves and hope that we can also bring out the best in ourselves. Because in doing so, there is fulfillment and satisfaction.
So, the question is: how can we bring out the best version of ourselves?
Cultivate your passion
Finding what you are passionate about is quite challenging because most of us are working to be sustainable without doing what we are passionate about.
Actively seeking ways to discover your passion and improving yourself to be good at what you love and at the same get paid for it is rarer than you think.
However, some people disregard whether they get paid or not as long as they can do whatever it is that they are passionate about. On that aspect, they can bring out the best version of themselves.
Thus, hear this advice: it’s not too late for you to find your passion and cultivate it!
Regardless of age and status in life, you can still find your passion and feed it for you to grow and be better with it. As long as it can contribute to a greater good, and it’s something not just to satisfy yourself, doing what you love can bring fulfillment and contentment in you that no amount of money or material possession can replace.
I am reminded of an old lady from Japan who dedicated her life to preserving the art of making a Bonsai tree. This practice is about maintaining a huge full grown tree in a small size; it is surely an art piece. Bonsai making is a long-term commitment to the art. You won’t last long if you are not passionate about it.
Watching her meticulously cut and prune every root, branch and leaf as time flies fuels her passion to do even more. As a result, her garden is like a museum full of blossoming artwork that took years of dedicating one’s passion that produced dazzling works of art.
There is still time for us who are still discovering our passion to be the best version of ourselves. Age is only a number and opportunity is ever present for those who are seeking it. This is why each one of us should be encouraged to cultivate your passion and use it to for you to achieve the best version of yourself.
Make discouragements to be on your side, not against you
In walking the path towards self-development, we will face a few (or many) discouragements. Whether from within ourselves or from outside factors, these are part of the journey.
You have to accept the fact that discouragements will either paralyze you, make you quit, or worst can put you in a lot of risks. Or you might experience pain because of what your passion requires. Some people are so afraid of discouragement that they never take the first step in trying.
Some tried to, but when they encounter opposition and adversity, they quit. This is the common mindset that we tell ourselves when it comes to discouragements.
We often view discouragements, adversities, and conflicts as a stumbling block to the pursuit of our self-development. However, if we put a twist on this belief, you can actually make these negative things to be on your side, not against you.
How? It starts in the mind. If you are able to control your thoughts from benefiting from these pessimistic thoughts, these can act as a motivational push for you to be a better person.
If you are quite fond of basketball, then you will appreciate this next point. One player is known for making discouragements work for him. The all-time Laker, Kobe Bryant. His mental toughness on and off the court paved the way for him to be one of the best in the NBA.
He is well known for playing at the top of his game, to be at his peak even during road games. Whenever crowds of hometown fans gather up to distract him and throw him off his game, it works the other way around.
The more adversity he encounters, the more he is fuelling up his game to be efficient on the court. This is why it’s just better for the fans to be quiet than anger hype Kobe up with their discouragements during road games. And not just on the court but off the court as well.
He nursed a handful of injuries, got involved in a few controversies, and for once even considered to be traded to another team. But when it came time to close the curtains of his career, he finishes with a 60-point game, gave the crowd a spectacular show and won an Academy Award (not supposed to be given to athletes) for his short film, Dear Basketball.
This man has left a legacy not just to the sport he loved so well, but to those who aspire to be the best version of themselves. So make sure that if you are experiencing discouragements today, let them be your ally, not adversity. It can either pull you towards your goal or push you away from it. You choose.
Start Today
The path towards the strongest version of yourself must begin the soonest. This is one of the things that can make your life more worth living. It doesn’t need any preparation but it only takes one decision for you to take the first step in finding your passion and living it.
Only you can make it happen!
