Be Your Best Self

Being yourself also means expressing yourself and not being ashamed. I am a Mormon

There are billions of people all over the world. Not one is the exact same as another.

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” - Dr. Seuss 

How does this knowledge bring us happiness?

Through my experiences, I've learned that wearing a mask or trying to be someone I'm not, to fit in, does not make me happy (even if I successfully fit in). I've found that I am the happiest when I stop worrying about being judged. I have seen many people shun opportunities to achieve goals because they are afraid of rejection, disappointment, and criticism. I, myself have done these things. 

I had the opportunity to play in an international soccer tournament when I was 13 and didn't take it for different reasons. One of them was because I was afraid to come back a loser. To have traveled so far and fail. This was a big regret of mine, but I do not let it hinder myself. I learned from it so I don't make the same mistake.  

There are those who try but fall and fail. What then? Shall we give up and try something else? Let me share something about sports. . . .Michael Jordan

Here are 5 lessons about success, life, passion and commitment we can learn from Michael Jordan’s story.

Use Setbacks As Fuel

“I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Michael Jordan was one to embrace setbacks and failure as motivation. Cut from his high school team as a sophomore, he used that as fuel and trained intensely. His work paid off. Next year he made the team and in his senior year, he made the All-American High School Team.

Jordan developed an amazing work ethic and determination which let him thrive through every adversity he faced!

Expect Greatness From Yourself

“I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot… when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result.”

One of Michael’s mantras is that for amazing things to happen you have to focus and prepare for amazing things to happen. This is extremely powerful; by focusing on potential positives instead of failures, you open yourself up to opportunities for success and achievement. This is exemplified in his quote, “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.”

Focusing on the right things is one of the keys to accelerating your success. Scanning for positives out of a situation makes us happier and productive, making us more likely to succeed. By focusing on the potential positives and expecting great things, this motivates our body and mind on doing the things that could make it happen. In the case of many successful athletes and business people, strong self-belief is a key to their success.

Don’t Fear Failure, Embrace It

“I've never been afraid to fail.”

Along with processing setbacks and failure as fuel and motivation, Michael chose to embrace failure itself instead of fearing it. This is a great ethos: if failure happens, it happens. It’s only terrible if you process it as terrible. Jordan describes fear as an ‘illusion’ that he overcome. Fearing failure itself limits your potential success.

Michael said in an interview that he had no disappointments in his playing career. He said there were things that were negative, but he always took them as a positive because it’s a great learning experience and without them, other great things wouldn't have happened.

Stick To The Basics

“The minute you get away from fundamentals – whether its proper technique, work ethic or mental preparation – the bottom can fall out of your game, your schoolwork, your job, whatever you’re doing.”

Michael said to stick to the fundamentals and don’t get lost in the details. He always tried to find an edge at whatever he worked at and part of that was never losing sight of the basics.

Another important Jordan quote says never to try and skip over anything basic: “If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you.” The message is great: if you try to cut corners or think you’re beyond doing something that seems basic then you will not be rewarded. To be successful everyone has to stick to certain fundamentals or they will stray from productive habits and focus too much on things that don’t matter.

Work Super Hard

Michael Jordan worked extremely hard to reach every goal. Tony Robbins quotes Michael as saying his success was due to demanding more out of himself than anyone else. When he took a break to play baseball, Jordan was reported as the earliest player at the diamond and the last person to leave, working endless hours with a batting coach to get better. Michael’s Chicago Bull teammates all reported him as the first one to arrive and the last one to leave at the team gym every day.

A combination of his athletic gift and long, tough, deliberate practice was part of Michael Jordan’s success formula.

 “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan.

God  has made us individually. He has given us specific talents and gifts to bring happiness to ourselves and others. We have talents that we can develop as long as we strive for them. Don't be afraid to take risks, never give up, and keep moving forward. 
BE YOUR BEST SELF!