by Nobody is always the best no matter how many times they say they are, no matter how much time they spend rationalizing away their failure. There is a natural rhythm to life — sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail, sometimes we fall in between. Even when we do everything we think we need to do, are all-in, are at our best, there are still times that we come up short. It isn’t fair, but that’s life.
BUT there is a way to always win.
The sooner we accept and embrace life as it is and us as we are, the better our life. Asking ourselves to be someone we are not — perfect, always the best and so on, leaves us wanting. Asking life to be something it is not — knowable, controllable, fair, yields the same result.
We are imperfect and always will be. That’s OK. It is OK for us, and it is OK for others. So much of what happens in life is beyond our control. That’s OK, too. Being understanding of others as well as of ourselves (often much harder) is key to living the kind of life we want to live — a life where we are at peace with a clear mind.
The win, the constant win, is to accept and embrace ourselves as we are and life as it is no matter the result. Results matter so much less than being true to ourselves. When we know and trust ourselves to be who we really are we have won the big game. Whether we are right, win or succeed pales in comparison.
When we make a mistake while being true to ourselves, we still win as we are being our best, all that we are and so at peace. When we make a mistake not being true to who we are, trying to be someone we are not, we lose twice — not only the result but in not being true to ourselves. Even if we win, but do so not being true to ourselves, we really lose for the victory is a hollow one. But when we win being all that we are and true to ourselves, we win twice. The result is nice, but the real victory is that we achieved it being who we are. This is the win that matters most. Pledge allegiance to who we really are. When we achieve this, and it is not easy to turn down the volume of our personal Noise, we have won no matter the outcome. This is how we always win.
Real winners know and live this.
Time to commit to accept and embrace us as we are and stay true no matter the situation. This is not easy. It is a life commitment. It is a life journey. It takes effort to break the old habits of distrust and fear. But given the payoff, a life of acceptance of oneself, of peace, of being our best in every moment, it is worth it.
We always win when we are true to ourselves. The best results possible will happen. We will deal with and make the most of whatever happens and be better for it. This is enough. This is how life is best lived.
More to come.
Eric Easter is chief executive officer of Indianapolis-based Kittle’s Furniture.
