The Tribune

By Michelle Miller

The first step to becoming your best self is learning how to “be”. Be strong. Be confident. Be true. Be you.

Although many individuals may have an image or picture in mind of who they would like to be, few have the courage, willpower, skills or confidence to make that image a reality.

This coupled with the old habit of needing other people’s approval makes the journey of becoming your best self even more challenging.

I believe that the biggest hurdle is learning to get over yourself enough so that you understand you are born to do, have and be more. 

To recognise that becoming your best self is not a group project.  It’s a personal decision made and upheld by you – full stop.  

So, rather than settling for the status quo of living on the outside of your life, muster the courage to stand tall and get to work. Brick by brick, you can build your desired style of life based on your own blueprint.

But it takes courage and willpower to give yourself a chance to take a chance on yourself. You must believe that ‘yes you can’ actually create a better image and live your best life from that perspective.  

In the book “Psycho-cybernetics”, Dr Maxwell Maltz talks about the crucial role that our self-image has on our lives; he calls it our ‘secret blueprint’.

According to Dr Maltz, “the most important psychological discovery of modern times is the discovery of the self-image. By understanding your self-image and by learning to modify it and manage it to suit your purpose, you gain incredible confidence and power. Whether we realise it or not, each of us carries within us a mental blueprint or picture of ourselves.”

The question is – what does your mental blueprint look like?

The truth is most people have no real answer to this question. This is because the journey of self-discovery remains an uncharted territory.

People are conditioned to find more comfort and satisfaction taking care of homes, careers, jewellery and other temporary possessions. They full-out ignore their responsibility for getting inside their life through self-discovery and life-long learning. Despite this, we are growth-seeking beings. 

Whether we chose to grow or not is our choice to make. Until you make the choice to think better, you cannot really live a better life or become your best self.

Becoming your best self is not a ‘one size fits all’ concept. You are unique – only you can be you. Just as no two snowflakes are alike, we each have an authentic blueprint and a specific role that only we can play. Our goal must be to focus on being true to ourselves by taking the time to unravel what lies beneath the surface.  

Ultimately, becoming your best self is learning how to heed the call within; to live for a higher purpose and to play a higher role in the way you show up in your life and the world

Leader to leader, make today the day that you find the courage to discover who you are and the willpower to move towards becoming your best self. It is the key to living the life that you love.   

What do you think?  

• Michelle M Miller is a certified life coach and leadership expert. Questions or comments can be sent via e-mail to coaching242@yahoo.com or telephone 429-6770 or visit http://www.michellemmiller.com, or send mail to PO Box CB-13060.