Principles, Parenting & Purpose

Do Your Best

June 9, 2023

“I’m striving to be better, but even though I know no one is perfect, I always feel like a failure. Everything I do turns out wrong. Letting go seems like giving up. How will I ever be enough? How will I find my purpose and meaning in my life if I give up!?”

One hint: “striving” is likely to be the ego’s will. That’s what we aim to surrender.

Instead, we seek to operate according to our higher Self’s will. When we meet that Self, we find peace.

We all want to be happy. But how?

How about if we start by examining our values. Then, imagine the highest purposes aligned with those values. And finally, pursue goals supporting those purposes, or things we “aim” to accomplish.

Discover the truth: Happiness is a side-effect. And, “trying to feel good” is a dead end.

Do something! Take action toward what you value most, and see what happens. And, instead of pursuing happiness, exert effort in the direction of your highest values. Love and serve others. Create beautiful things. Explore the world and enjoy its wonders. Read to learn, explore and enjoy!

The key is to understand root causes vs. symptoms. Happiness and sadness are symptoms. The root cause involves choice.

If we see clearly and operate well, we “feel good” automatically—no effort is required.

Often, rest is a perfectly good answer. Jim Carey observed that “feeling depressed is a call for deep rest.”

However, the right kind of rest is essential. Staying in bed all day is not the answer. Rest for the mind may involve getting up early and exercising the body. Rest for the mind may be watching a funny movie. Rest for the mind may be a hot bath with bubbles. Rest for the mind may be a long walk in a quiet forest. Or, rest for the mind may simply be a nap on a sunny afternoon.

There are no right or wrong answers. But there are good and bad choices.

If no good choices seem obvious, sit, breathe, and quiet your mind. Relax. Wait for your higher Self to prompt you. Listen.

Whatever you do, it’s enough. But know, you can always do more! You can always do better!

There is no standard for adequacy. All you can do is aim to do your best each moment of every day. That’s all that’s necessary.

What qualifies as “my best” can be a very low bar. Where you see that bar is one of your choices. Treat yourself like someone you love. Set the bar high enough that it’s challenging. But not so high that there’s no hope of success.

Don’t feel bad about lowering the bar.

“All that is required of us is to breathe and let go.”

When you can do nothing else. Breathe. And let go.