John Wooden, the great UCLA Basketball Coach, said that success is doing your best. Assuming he is correct, we can deduct that failure is turning in a half-hearted effort. When no one else is looking, and it is just you taking an honest look at yourself, how are you really showing up? This is the real test in life.
People will come and go in your life. They will have their perceptions and opinions of you. But, the opinion that matters most, regarding you, is your own. Now, you may be thinking, what about people who are deluded? What about narcissists? What about people who have a high opinion of themselves but are obviously wrong? What about people who are too down on themselves? Good questions. The answer is clear and remains the same, and does not shift given point of view, and can’t be manipulated by the words you say – the answer is the question – did I do my best? Simply answer this honestly and you will know if you have succeeded or failed.
John Wooden said that his teams sometimes won a game, but in his view they actually lost. They may have “won” on points, but lost in the big picture because their character or spirit was compromised. Sometimes they lost on points, but he felt they actually won the game because the way they played strengthened their character and spirit.
Making the commitment to do your best ensures you will be truly successful. Maybe not on the scoreboard, or in the opinion of other people, but in the eyes of the person who looks back at you in the mirror, you. This is a great and powerful lesson and a bit of solid ground to stand on.
The 365 Commitment has helped me see the truth in this lesson, because I have committed to doing my best I pay less attention to the public scoreboard, and pay more attention to my own internal score. When winning or losing is based on your internal score, and you keep your commitments to yourself, it provides a sense of confidence and security like nothing else can. Sure, I fall short sometimes. But, in keeping my 365 Commitment, and seeking to do my best habitually, I notice a sense of internal peace and satisfaction that is solid and invulnerable to the opinions of others or the storms in life. This bit of solid ground y be the most valuable outcome so far on my 365 Commitment journey.
Ben Wagner (72)
Member The 365 Commitment
