Our best self
One of the tasks for all of us if we have the good fortune to have the leisure to stop is to ask the question, “Who is our best self?”
One may believe that one’s best self is being kind and patient no matter what others do or do not do; a person who never allows others to see one’s vulnerabilities; a Martin Luther King Jr who was overall comfortable with his humanness and comfortable with the risks he took; a Tina Turner who pushes the boundaries of theater when performing; an Aryan supremist; a person who challenges others to pull themselves up by their invisible boot straps.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregations believes their best selves can be achieved by using seven principles as a guide. The seven principles are:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to
spiritual growth in our congregations;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. (https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles)
Those are lofty principles which no one is able to consistently follow. The members of these congregations are well aware that none of them can consistently be their best selves. Yet, these principles provide a guide to which they can aspire.
Most business organizations have a written mission statement. Some families have a mission statement. Some families, businesses and even some churches regularly set aside time to review the extent to which they have able to move forward in achieving their mission.
Most of us would have to admit we cannot consistently be our best selves. I, for example, begin each day with a written spiritual intention. It is my sincere goal to achieve that intention. My intention today was to notice when I am not present and to bring myself back to the moment. I had not been up an hour before I noticed that my mind was focused on yesterday, later today and tomorrow. I was also thinking of what I had decided was the best self for another person. In short, my thoughts were everywhere but present. The good news is that I quickly noticed I was not present. I knew this was not the fault of the person to whom I was talking. I was also aware that who I decided the person should be was keeping me from being present with the person they are.
It is my belief that many conditions and factors can keep us from being our best selves. Certainly fear, depression, shame and a host of other feelings and thoughts can prevent us from being our best. I believe that being my best will support others in being their best; my best should never be at the expense of another person. I do not want or need to be better than, more than, richer than, stronger than, better groomed than, or more powerful then.
The beginning of another school year in the United States might be a good time to challenge students (all of us) what it means to be our best selves and how that version of self affects others and all of nature.
Written August 11, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
One of the tasks for all of us if we have the good fortune to have the leisure to stop is to ask the question, “Who is our best self?”
One may believe that one’s best self is being kind and patient no matter what others do or do not do; a person who never allows others to see one’s vulnerabilities; a Martin Luther King Jr who was overall comfortable with his humanness and comfortable with the risks he took; a Tina Turner who pushes the boundaries of theater when performing; an Aryan supremist; a person who challenges others to pull themselves up by their invisible boot straps.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregations believes their best selves can be achieved by using seven principles as a guide. The seven principles are:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to
spiritual growth in our congregations;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. (https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles)
Those are lofty principles which no one is able to consistently follow. The members of these congregations are well aware that none of them can consistently be their best selves. Yet, these principles provide a guide to which they can aspire.
Most business organizations have a written mission statement. Some families have a mission statement. Some families, businesses and even some churches regularly set aside time to review the extent to which they have able to move forward in achieving their mission.
Most of us would have to admit we cannot consistently be our best selves. I, for example, begin each day with a written spiritual intention. It is my sincere goal to achieve that intention. My intention today was to notice when I am not present and to bring myself back to the moment. I had not been up an hour before I noticed that my mind was focused on yesterday, later today and tomorrow. I was also thinking of what I had decided was the best self for another person. In short, my thoughts were everywhere but present. The good news is that I quickly noticed I was not present. I knew this was not the fault of the person to whom I was talking. I was also aware that who I decided the person should be was keeping me from being present with the person they are.
It is my belief that many conditions and factors can keep us from being our best selves. Certainly fear, depression, shame and a host of other feelings and thoughts can prevent us from being our best. I believe that being my best will support others in being their best; my best should never be at the expense of another person. I do not want or need to be better than, more than, richer than, stronger than, better groomed than, or more powerful then.
The beginning of another school year in the United States might be a good time to challenge students (all of us) what it means to be our best selves and how that version of self affects others and all of nature.
Written August 11, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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