WHAT IS YOUR BEST VERSION?

Narmada is an intelligent executive. She is a good conversationalist. She loves discussing on topics of self-development, spirituality, and positivity in life. And when she walked into my room a few days back, she posed an interesting question. “Sir, what is the best version of yourself?”

It set my thinking hats on their search mode. After a while I replied: “MY 7.7 version.”

“7.7 Version? What is it?” She asked curiously.

I replied quietly “The first 7 indicates my last seven decades of life and the next seven indicates the life beyond the first seven decades, which is my age.” Both of us laughed uncontrollably.

“Why do you say that?” she continued.

“Listen. Every day is a new day. Every dawn brings new opportunities. Every opportunity opens a new gateway to life. Every gateway to life shows you a new perspective, a new path and food for one’s growth mindset. And so, every day is a best version of me, though the version may be different every time.” I continued. “Remember, the same version may not be the best to a given situation and may get illuminated or celebrated on another occasion. Contextuality often decides the quality and relevance of the version. Nevertheless, there are certain fundamentals that define the best version of any individual. “

“Great! Then please tell me what those vital fundamentals are for achieving the best version of the self.” That was a thought-provoking question and I listed them as follows with relevant explanations.

1.???? REFLECTION

Reflection is one basic element for growth. Anyone who does not reflect on what one has been, how one has been, what one has done, what one intends to do, which way one is proceeding, is set to lead a life of confusion. It is not necessarily planning, but reflection that offers a corrective step to be on the right track. That helps avoiding regret, delay in operation, loss of time, wastage of resources and many other things. A little time on reflection helps in self-awareness, course-correction, regulation, and acceptance. It helps to improve one’s version day in and day out. Says Peter Drucker, the management Guru, “Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” Reflection does not necessitate comparison of the self with anyone else or judging one’s performance against any set norm. It is a factual understanding of the self in the contemporary situation. Says Wayne Dyer “you don’t need to be better than anyone else; you just need to be better than you used to be.”

2.???? EFFORT

“Effort Never Fails” said the great saint-poet Thiruvalluvar. Effort is just an engagement of the conscious self with the external self to unravel the mysteries of existence both for the inner world and the external world. Effort keeps us busy on a learning curve and makes us a ‘continuous and sustainable’ learner. Efforts help to infuse a sense of confidence to the possibilities and trigger curiosity to nurture the fertile imagination to seek newer meanings, newer skills, and newer learning. Effort distinguishes us from the rest of the cohort to narrate our uniqueness and the level of vibrance of our breath to the cause of living. Efforts are not necessarily oriented towards a goal, though the goals provide a direction, describe a magnitude, and enlists the purpose. Without effort one cannot dream of discovering the better self at any point of time. “Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think,” said Benjamin Disraeli. Efforts always nurtures our mind with positive thoughts so that we can rise our bar from time to time,

3.???? Running an extra mile

“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them,” said Albert Einstein. People who are successful in life and people who are pursue excellence in life is those who run an extra mile than others. Running an extra mile is not only a fun, an adventure, a learning experience but it is a gift given to us by the Universe to highlight our ability to expand the quality and quantum of energy and the life spirit latent in us. Says Napoleon Hill, the motivational speaker and author “One of the most important principles of success is developing the habit of going the extra mile.” In running an extra mile, the best version of an individual always surfaces. It helps to raise your benchmark at periodic intervals and helps to stretch one’s performance potential beyond one’s own understanding and definitions. Every time one runs an extra mile, it becomes a catalyst to self-actualization and infuse an extra confidence of one’s own competencies. “Don’t dim your light because others think it’s too bright” says Jackie Cantoni, in the book “Are you ready?” Running an extra mile need not assure one a success, but it definitely gives a new brand of one’s own self. It is an exercise in conquering the self. As Edmund Hillary points out “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."

4.???? Being Humane

One cannot be in one’s best version without being humane. Understanding humanity, being synchronous with human needs and elevating the self to a higher level of human existence is essential to be a better version of oneself. It may call for some considered sacrifices, a sense of compassion and outreach, being available to the cause of others in time and sharing the physical, economic, and environmental resources with others is an index of the humaneness. “The greatness of humanity is not being human, but being humane,” said Mahatma Gandhi. In trying to be humane, one reveals the unknown and hidden vistas of the goodness, greatness, nobility, and the spirituality embedded within. No successful person who is not humane, can ever be at one’s best version.

5.???? Being purposeful

Staying focused and purposeful is an important requisite to be at one’s best version. Very often people with a lot of energy and those who put in time a lot of time at their work do not reveal their best or raise to the level of projecting their best version because they are not focused or purposeful. By not staying focused, they lose their time and energy. Oftentimes, people who have poor time management skills stay away from their defined track to success or a goal. "The bad news is time flies. The good news is you are the pilot" says Michael Altshuler. If one intends to move towards their best version, it is imperative that their time conscious and put in work into time rather than putting time into work.

6.???? Being optimistic and positive

Those who do not see the light of the day hardly progress. Optimism is one basic nutrient to nurture growth towards the best version. Absence of optimism distracts one’s attention towards impossibilities and lets the individual suffocate within the self, oftentimes leading to either self-contempt or self-pity. A positive approach to the future opens the gateways of life and lets the energy flow without hinderance or inhibition. The energy flow from the individual to the environment and vice versa, is essential for a harmonious and sustainable growth that helps in revealing the better version of the self. Says Rabindranath Tagore “I have become my own version of an optimist. If I cannot make it through one door, I will go through another door - or I will make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.”

7.???? Keep expanding the horizons.

Many people tend to stay in their comfort zones by drawing a circle around them. They suffocate in their own imaginary domains of capability and capacity; they are unwilling to seek newer pastures or expand their existing horizons. Very often our experiments in untreaded paths, though adventurous, helps us to understand our possibilities. "Your greatness is measured by your horizons", said Michelangelo. Several people who have demonstrated their best versions, have done so after they thought they have completed authoring the story of their professional life. Says Dr. Emma Seppala, the professor of Psychology in the magazine “The Psychology Today” Unfortunately, this skewed mentality intertwines identity and productivity so deeply that it can lead people to a lifelong quest for success. that always leaves them hungering for more—because we know only too well from research (and life experience) that achievements, awards, honour, and financial gain only bring limited satisfaction in life, never deep fulfilment.” Seeking new horizons introduces us to our latest version of life.

” Great! The list may have a few more to add. But let me ask you when you felt you were at your best version?” ?she asked.

“Narmada, you seem to go back to the same question. Remember, the moment you feel you are already at your best version, it creates a roadblock to your learnability. The moment you feel you have not been anytime on your best version, creates a sense of self-defeatism. It is important to feel that you are on a vibrant journey to your best version, every time outwitting the best version you already have.”

Narmada thanked me profusely, as she stepped out to find the updated version of herself.

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