How do you become the best version of yourself?

At the risk of pompously sounding like a Poundland Ted Talk, I've been doing a lot of reflecting and thinking in recent months, with the help of a counsellor and my own living and working space in Manchester.

I've learned a lot about myself and have grown attached to the philosophy of stoicism. This outlook on life is widely attributed to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who ruled the Roman Empire successfully for 19 years, navigating wars and loss of children, inspired by forebears like Epictetus and inspiring others like Nelson Mandela and the concentration camp survivor, Viktor Frankl.

I'm trying to become the best version of myself and am following many of the precepts of stoicism and self-improvement in 5 major steps.

1. Have the courage to grow

We all know it takes courage to be different, to make a change but it's vital that we do. I've used the tree analogy before. Humans are not trees, we can move. We have roots but we are capable of growing and moving. You need to leave a cage and find freedom, something I've repeatedly done in my life with careers and relationships. It is easier though to stay planted, to stay rooted and refuse to move and grow.

2. Make progress every single day

Stoicism teaches us all to make small steps, which are no small thing. Don't focus your energy on transformations. It's too ambitious and will likely lead to failure.

3. Adopt an imaginary objective persona

Try to become more objective. If someone impartial was watching your daily acts, your daily work, your daily interactions, what would they make of your behaviours and attitudes?

Remember there's often a stimulus then a response. That moment is when you choose what to do and how to react. I'm working on that - a bit like Undo Send on the latest iOS update, where you can recall an email with 10, 20, 30 seconds.

I'm making small steps in the way I live, every single day.

4. Find out what you're good at and treat it like a job

I'm good at writing and web design and marketing and I've made it my job. You need to remain committed to something you're good at and I have with Get Pro Copy Ltd since November 2015.

5. Ask yourself did I do my best?

To improve yourself, you need to find something you're good at and do your best at it, along with every single interaction you make in business or your personal life.

Stoicism

Stoicism is a philosophy based on virtue, tolerance and self-control. Its name comes from a public colonnade where Zeno gathered with disciples and taught them about being calm under pressure, controlling how we approach things and how we respond.

We can't change the world as it is very easily, but we can change how we respond. We can't change others, but we can change ourselves.

Its four main principles are:

1. Wisdom - being logical, calm and informed
2. Temperance - exercising self-restraint and moderation
3. Justice - showing fairness when people have done wrong or wronged you
4. Courage - displaying integrity and clarity of thoughts and actions in daily challenges

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage - Seneca

This is what I'm attempting to do and become following lines of self-improvement. I want to change for the better. I want to live a fulfilling life. Largely I do. Weekly therapy and living singly is my act of courage.

You have power over your minds, not outside events. Realise this and you'll find strength - Marcus Aurelius.

Do you work on yourself?

If so, how?

I am genuinely interested, not simply chasing the engagement and reach algorithm too.