A break or a breakdown?
Giving 100%, sometimes even more (if that is even possible), going the extra mile, hustling, hard-working… Most of us use these words when we want to explain our professionalism, dedication to our work, and competence. I’ve never heard someone (including myself) saying, “Today I gave around 56% because that’s all I had in me” or “I am not going the extra mile because it will not bring me extra pay/recognition/respect”. Try looking for an antonym for hustle — best case it will tell you that if you don’t hustle, you are slow, and who wants to be called slow?!
So we hustle!
At work, in our own home, at the gym, with friends, around family, for our partners… we hustle! We are busy! We give our best!
So when did “our best” become perfect? Doing your best means exactly that — within all circumstances, the physical state of your body, the mental state of your head — you do YOUR BEST! Not all! Not beyond your strengths! Not extra! We do our best, the best we can give that moment! Sometimes, it might be 100%, but other times (most of the time), it will be less, and possibly it can be 0! It doesn’t mean that we are weak, unprofessional, or, God forbid, incompetent! There will be days when doing your best will mean giving up or letting go.
I´ve seen too many people burn out because they thought their best was always giving 100% of them! My dear friend collapsed at the half marathon today because he wanted to beat his personal record! His heart went the extra mile and almost stopped! No one forced him, and there was no prize at the end (except the medal — that everyone gets); he pushed himself to be better, faster, extra! Luckily, it all ended well, but it will take quite some time until he tries again to beat his personal best, if ever.
And most of the time, we do this to ourselves! Other people have little to do with our best; our best is just ours. We set our goals and test our limits, we create to-do lists and deadlines. We want to be better! And there is nothing wrong with that as long as we preserve through it. It is perseverance and persistence throughout our life-long journey, not only for that one thing you must do today. Marathon, not sprint!
“I lied and said I was busy.
I was busy;
but not in a way most people understand.
I was busy taking deeper breaths.
I was busy silencing irrational thoughts.
I was busy calming a racing heart.
I was busy telling myself I am okay.
Sometimes, this is my busy -
and I will not apologize for it.”
― Brittin Oakman
