It doesn’t take much. Most of us find a way to get it done at least once a day. I’m not talking about general hygiene or eating a meal, rather I’m referring to how we each create some sort of standard each day. Travelling throughout the United States and the world, I’ve made it my mission to learn about why people do the things they do. In other words, to empathize with others has become a kind of life mission.
1 common theme I’ve come to know all too well is self-hate. It seems as no matter where I end up, no matter how sunny or perfect the day, I will find a group of people down on themselves. Sometimes this takes the form of an angry outburst and other times it can be someone just completely broke down in tears. I’ve taken the time to have conversations with these people and what I’d come to realize is that they were all coming up short on 1 thing: how much they valued themselves.
You see, most people have idols and things that impress them. We become so enamored with the stories of greatness that we forget how great we ourselves can be. This is the reason the 17 year old kid who runs an entire restaurant for minimum wage can find himself wondering if he would even be missed tomorrow. Here’s the thing. It’s not necessarily his fault he doesn’t see his value.
Our world for a long time has looked down on the youth. We treat our children as if they have no value. Instead of conversing in normal language, we speak to them in what is traditionally called “baby talk”. From then, parents try to control their every decision in the name of safety. For some, they are able to break from the safety net and begin true maturation, but for most, once they break 1 safety net, they are looking at 10 more. Society has taken the value away from the kids and I believe that older generations do this as a way of remaining or becoming respected.
We all crave value and that is the beauty of this life. The truth is, we all have the ability to be great but it has to start with a standard. The Standard. This internal voice that tells you how great you are and that there is room for improvement. I used to ask myself the question, “Phillip, if you are always going to be this hungry, when will you ever be able to settle?!” I can confidently answer that we all have so much greatness within us, we won’t get to everything we want to perfect before life and time forces our hand.
Today I encourage you to live the absolute best you can no matter what that looks like! If that means you are the best napper you can be or the best fry cook, or the best sandwich maker, or the best CEO, give your best YOU! Do it today and tomorrow and it just might become a habit! What standard will you create?