The Art of Becoming

There are many articles written about milestone birthdays, about turning 30, 40, 50, and the transformations you undergo as you age. For me, “becoming” is not about a specific age, it's about the lessons learned along the way, the things I choose to take with me into the future. Even more importantly, it's about those things I've chosen to leave behind; the things that no longer serve me, as I strive to become…a more authentic version of myself.

What you become is affected by your career as well as your family and friends, however, it is truly a personal journey. It's about identifying your values, what you stand for, even in times of challenge, or when no one is watching. It's having guiding principles, core values, a personal philosophy, one that has been developed with time, experiences, and effort.

Those life lessons don't come quickly, they don't come easily. If they did, would they have a lasting impact, help us on our journey to becoming? We spend so much time in our youth in service to what others think, how we make others feel, what others think we should be. The art, the process, of “Becoming” is about realizing and understanding those things that serve us, who we aspire to be, what we want to see in ourselves.  

Becoming is a process that is never really over, if we do it right. It's about the journey, not the destination. Becoming your best self is an art; and like any art, it takes effort, practice, patience, and dedication. It's never truly perfected, but the results can be pretty spectacular when we take the time to stand back and appreciate them.