Becoming a Better You
Recently my older son (21) was sharing with his younger brother (17) the idea of becoming a better you. As a leadership and development coach, of course my ears perked up. My son was explaining that the “you” you are today, is the not the “you” you will become in the future. He asked his younger brother if he’d ever given that idea any thought (this made me smile).
Who’s Your Hero?
To make his point, he shared a video he’d watched of Matthew McConaughey giving his Oscar acceptance speech. In particular, he liked when the 15 year old McConaughey was asked by someone important to him, “Who’s your hero?” McConaughey had to think about this. It took him a couple of weeks to respond, and when he was asked again, he said “you know who it is, it’s me in 10 years”.
Now, some might think this is crazy, chasing after something you will never become. My son and I think its brilliant.
Be and Do Better
Setting your sights on some better version of yourself is a little like setting a goal or having a dream. However, a goal or dream tend to focus on things you want to attain or achieve. Whereas, the idea of becoming a better you is a very personal, internal pursuit. It’s a conscious choice to be and do better. This may include choosing to help others by volunteering, but it could also be as simple as holding a door or smiling at a stranger. It may mean making the choice to fully pay attention to the person right in front of you to become a better listener. For others, it may mean learning to use your voice and stand up for yourself, to lean-in or become more assertive. And sometimes, it may simply include making the conscious choice to say NO, to have more peace and calm in the moment.
One Small Change in Becoming a Better You
This year, instead of making a New Year’s Resolution that you’re unlikely to keep, give some thought to what you’d like to change or make better about yourself. Commit yourself to make just one small change in becoming a better you.
“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim.
I see it instead as forward motion,
a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self.
The journey doesn’t end.”
– Michelle Obama, Becoming
Kristin Clark, a Leadership Development Coach and her father, Harvey Schoof, co-founder of Axiogenics, a Leadership Development company, partner to create a blueprint for Living a Richer Life; It’s All in Your Head!
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