by We are designed and built to become better. To learn, grow and improve. It is how our species has survived and flourished. The more that we are true to who we really are, the better we are today and tomorrow. While this is natural, our personal Noise often interferes with our living life as it was meant to be lived.
We can be burdened by our personal Noise that too often questions our actions, our thoughts, what we really want and need — who we really are. Our Noise can interfere with making the most of this moment with fear and distrust as its weapons. This leads us to try to know, control and change what cannot be known, controlled or changed. Wasted effort, wasted time. If we are not self-aware enough to understand what is happening, we can unknowingly miss the potential of this moment as we ask the impossible.
This can create anxiety, worry, stress and a mind cluttered with toxic thoughts. This is not the way to become better, nor to live our life.
Knowing who we really are is key. Knowing what our voice sounds like, how it feels puts us on our path. To stay on our path requires that we trust and are fearless of who we are. On our path, we discover that it is best and feels natural to be honest about our strengths and weaknesses, our successes and failures. Making excuses, pointing fingers and denying what is true are not on our path. These are self-erected obstacles to becoming better. When we are unafraid to accept and embrace life as it is and us as we are, we have chosen the best path, our path. And our path is always about becoming better.
Maximizing our potential in this moment requires that we see and experience it as it really is — not colored by our Noise. It means not being caught up about what has happened or what might happen. We are focused on what is happening, and our efforts are channeled toward making the most of it.
None of us can know a result before its time has come. None of us can change what has already happened. All that we are designed and built to do is make the most of this moment by being honest with ourselves, about who we are, about what we know and don’t know, about what we have learned, about what we control, about what we can change, about what we are best at and about where we fall short. This is enough. This is being who we really are. There is nothing more to do.
Becoming better is a never-ending quest. It means being all-in with all that we are each moment. Whether we are up against a difficult situation at home or work or taking some time to enjoy nature, to have some fun, making the most of the moment, whatever life brings, demands we be here with all that we are.
To see clearly who we really are and to live a better life, means learning to Stop Our Noise. This is the critical first step to becoming better, to living life as it is meant to be lived. The second step is to continue listening to our voice and learning to trust it over all others.
We can always become better. It is up to us to tap into who we really are and so constantly pursue “better.”
More to come.
Eric Easter is chief executive officer of Indianapolis-based retailer Kittle’s Furniture.
