“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle It’s great to take feedback from other people and explore different perspectives from the ones you hold. But never overlook or downplay the wisdom you have within. Your life and personal experiences have given you a unique perspective that’s invaluable. So trust yourself. Make it a habit to know yourself on deeper and deeper levels - you’ll find it’s the catalyst to unlocking your best self. This article will help… As well as exploring why knowing yourself is so so empowering, we’ll also dive into three revealing techniques that will help you know the person in the mirror on a whole new level. Let’s get started? Why it pays to know yourself “Be yourself — not your idea of what you think somebody else’s idea of yourself should be.” — Henry David Thoreau You are the blank canvas upon which your life gets to play out. You are the common denominator through all aspects of your life too. From your relationships to your career through to your finances, you are the decision-maker, the implementor, the goal-setter, the resistor, and the main actor. You’re ALL of it! Imagine how much more fluid your life can be if you understand the building blocks that you’ve got to play with? Imagine how much easier it would be to become your best self if you knew: • Your patterns • Your fears• Your purpose• Your passions• Your values• Your perceived limitations• Your desires • Your judgements• Your limits • Your needs• Your insecurities • Your saboteurs• Your wounds • Your patterns• Your limiting thoughts• Etc. When you know what you’re working with, it’s so much easier to make the right decisions for you. It’s easier to put yourself into situations where you’re going to grow. You’ll instinctively know what people are right for you, what goals you need to set, and what aspirations will actually leave you feeling fulfilled - not left wanting. The more you know yourself, the more you can create a deeply fulfilling life. So how do you walk this path of ever-increasing self-awareness? Here are THREE techniques to explore. Journaling  Journaling is one of the most potent tools for introspection, self-discovery, and self-awareness that I know. In the safety of the blank pages of your notebook, you can write anything - and see where it leads. You can ask yourself the deep questions that guide you to the parts of you that you're yet to explore - and you can inspire healing and inner knowing as a result. The beauty of journaling is that it’s personal. You pick the tools and the frameworks that best serve you. For example, you can try: Julia Cameron’s Morning PagesAnswering journaling prompts Mindmaps Doodles Notes, bullets, poetry even! Anything goes! The key is to write from your heart so you can discover what’s really inside. The wisdom that bubbles up is beyond powerful because it’s an ever-flowing stream of knowledge about you. If you’re ready to start journaling, here are some tools to help: The Writing Your Best Self podcast - for weekly journaling techniques and prompts Icebreaker Deck - prompts that help you find valuable things to write about Scribe notebook - if you love quality stationery, this one’s for you! Reflection “The unexamined life is not worth living”. - Socrates Humans are creatures of habit, which means we do a lot of things on autopilot. On the one hand, this is an extremely valuable trait. Autopilot habits take less bandwidth and energy because you don't have to think about doing them consciously. On the other hand, if your ingrained habits and behaviors don’t serve you, you’ll undermine your potential to be your best self. Reflection allows you to analyze your choices, decisions, outcomes and ultimately your life so you can get clear on what’s working - and what isn’t. Bringing awareness to our instinctive patterns is a powerful way to get clear on where we hold ourselves back - and where we’re driving ourselves forward. Reflection is embedded into the Self Journal for this reason. When you can extract the lessons and learnings from your everyday experiences because you’ve become a witness to your life and choices, you can eradicate limits and step into your best self. Ask for feedback Often we’re far to close to our own lives to see our blindspots. This is where input from trusted people can be invaluable. A coach, accountability partner, or a trusted friend are all excellent places to get an outsider’s input on the way you’re showing up and potentially getting in your own way. The right people can: • Help shine the light on the things you’re not seeing• Guide you to work through the patterns that don’t serve you• Support you to solve problems and challenges• And more! It’s not always comfortable to work on yourself, but the more you learn about who you really are, the more you let go of what no longer serves you, the easier it is to be your best self. What techniques will you try to know yourself better? I promise the habit of self-awareness will make a positive impact on yourself, your goals, and ultimately your life. 

“If you can tune into your purpose and really align with it, setting goals so that your vision is an expression of that purpose, then life flows much more easily.” ―Jack Canfield Unlocking your purpose is a powerful way to set aligned goals, ramp up motivation, and feel more fulfilled in life.  With your purpose to guide you, it’s easier to make decisions. It’s easier to distinguish between the opportunities which are right for you - and those that aren’t too. Finding your purpose can take time. It requires soul-searching and deep thought. What’s more, your purpose can change with time as you collect more experiences and discover new things that you love. But whatever it takes to get clarity over your purpose is more than worth it. With purpose as your compass, life can flow that little bit easier.  What’s your life’s purpose? Here are three techniques that can help you unlock yours.  Journal your passions “There is one quality that one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.” - Napoleon Hill Your journal is one of the best places to unlock your purpose. In the privacy of your journal, you get to explore ideas, riff with your heart, and make discoveries that aren’t possible any other way.  Journaling is one of the most effective ways to pull on the threads of your thoughts to see where the tangle leads. As you write without censorship or judgement, you can dive into your truth and that can be liberating.  Best of all, you don’t have to be an A-grade writer to get value from writing. There are no gold stars for the best journal entry! Instead, the purpose of journaling is to get your truth out of your head [and heart] and onto the blank page so you can see it and therefore use it to be your best self.  Questions are a brilliant way to pierce open a portal so the words can pour out.  In The Master Key System, Charles F. Haanel describes questions as “spiritual searchlights”. It’s an idea rooted in science thanks to the instinctive elaboration mental reflex where your brain is compelled to find answers to the questions you ask.  So open your notebook, grab a pen and get to writing your best self!  Here are some prompts to help you unlock your purpose and your passions.     If your day was free, what would you do?  • What do you love to give advice on? What do people ask you about? • When do you lose track of time? • What do you want to be remembered for?  For more tips and techniques to help sharpen your journaling practice, check out the Writing Your Best Self podcast.  Understand your impact It’s not unusual for your purpose to be wrapped up in something you’re naturally good at. This makes sense when you think about it…  When you’re living your life with purpose, it’s easy to lose track of time because purposeful activities take you into deep flow. You find that you’re so engrossed in what you do that you’re no longer clock-watching or procrastinating. Instead, things happen effortlessly and creatively and it feels really good. Sometimes, we’re too close to ourselves to understand the breadth of our skills and impact. So don’t be surprised if the thing that others value in you isn’t something you instinctively see in yourself! It’s easy to overlook the true value of something that comes easily to you.  Time to get curious...  Ask other people what they love about you. Chances are you’ll get some really valuable insights that will help you understand the true impact you make. Ask your boss, work colleagues, clients, friends, partner and family etc. Most importantly, be ready for some surprises.  Knowing what others value in you is a powerful way to take full ownership of the impact you make. When you’re aware of how you empower others, you can own this aspect of you in a more purposeful way.  It can have a huge impact on the way you approach what you do and help you be your best self.  Find your WHY Simon Sinek, author of Find Your WHY says, “If we want to feel an undying passion for our work, if we want to feel we are contributing to something bigger than ourselves, we all need to know our WHY.”  Our WHY is the reason we get out of bed in the morning. It’s the essence that injects and infuses passion into your work and the things that you do.  Sinek says that most of us know what we do and how we do it. But fewer people know the underlying reason behind their efforts. Get clarity over your WHY and you’ll connect with a bigger picture. Instead of doing alone, the things you do will take on more meaning and purpose - and that feeling inspires and motivated us to show up more fully. But that’s not all...  When you know your WHY you’ll be able to make aligned choices. You’ll instinctively know what things light you up and what things will drain your energy. You’ll know which goals to set and which opportunities to turn down. You’ll feel more focused and resilient too because you’re anchored by a deeper meaning that underpins the work you do.  You’ll feel better too… because a life lived with purpose just feels more fulfilling.  So how do you find your WHY?  One way is to dig below the layers… Start by asking yourself WHY you do what you do. Write down the first answer that comes to you. For example, I might say that that I write because I enjoy it.  ^ that’s the top-level superficial answer! Now it’s time to go deeper by asking WHY again.  In reply, I might say that I enjoy writing because it’s creative and self-expressive.  ^ Now we’re getting closer to the truth - but we can go deeper still by once again asking WHY?  In reply, I might say that creative self-expression leads to self-awareness and the opportunity to be seen and heard for who I really am - which is ultimately a form of self-love.  [And I believe cultivating self-love is one of the most impactful intentions we can set for ourselves.] In other words, I write because it fuels self-love, which helps me be my best self.  What about you?  What is your WHY?  Try this exercise for yourself and keep asking WHY until you get to the core. You’ll know it when you do because it will sing true.  Living a purposeful life In the words of Robert Byrne,  “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”  It never feels good to be going through the motions - living on autopilot.  But find your purpose, and you can infuse everything you do with more meaning and therefore fulfilment.  What’s your purpose?  With the help of the techniques in this article, it’s time to find out!

Getting a job for life in a stable industry used to be an empowering career goal, but in this world of rapid change and transformation, that is no longer the case. As new industries emerge and older ones go into decline, it’s a fact that most of us will change careers or shift direction at least once in our lives. Recent events have shown us that we can’t know what the future holds or what fresh opportunities exist ahead.  But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless to navigate the ever-evolving playing field.  Thanks to an abundance of books, courses, and content, we do have the ability to pivot. In this information age where knowledge is so readily accessible, we can learn just about anything! You can develop new skills, explore new interests, and choose to explore a new direction entirely.  That’s the power of self-education habits… they provide the key to virtually anything you want. It’s as Jim Rohn said, “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”  But how do you cultivate a lifestyle of self-education so you can be your best self and make the most of the opportunities that come your way?  Keep reading to discover SEVEN powerful self-education habits that can help you unlock your potential so you can create the life you want.  Read You’ve no doubt heard about the power of working with the right mentors. Well, books can be mentors too. What’s more, they’re a super affordable alternative to working directly with world-class thinkers and leaders - both dead and alive. That’s because books allow you to step into the shoes of the people you want to learn from - in virtually any field or discipline you can imagine.  Through the pages of a book, you can get a grasp of who someone is and how they think. In turn, books can transform what you know and how you think for a low-ticket pricetag. They can shift your perspective, open your mind to fresh ways of being, and inspire you to take action in a direction that you previously didn’t know existed.  Become a note-taker The human brain is notoriously bad at remembering things. More importantly, trying to remember stuff is not the best use of your brain’s talents. Your mind is a problem-solving, creative machine and the more headspace you free up for those activities, the more your best self can evolve.  Your brain has around 70,000 thoughts per day - a lot of them are low-level and repetitive. Writing things down into an ‘external brain’ like your notebook frees up the headspace you need to focus elsewhere.  This is one of the reasons why successful people take notes. They know that note-taking is a self-education habit that will help them become more creative and successful. Through the power of note-taking, you can crystalize what you’re thinking into a more tangible form. To paraphrase Jim Rohn, you’re only ever one idea away from completely changing your life. Why would you risk forgetting [or overlooking] the very idea that can unlock new doors?  Journal Your real value is not in what you do… it’s in WHO YOU ARE.  You are the creative canvas upon which your life unfolds. The more you can eliminate your fears, understand yourself, and work through the challenges that keep you from your best self, the more you can be.  Journaling is one of the best practices I know for unlocking the truth of who you are.  Through journaling, you can increase your self-awareness by getting introspective and reflective.  Through journaling, you can get clearer on the paths you want to walk and discern between the decisions that are right for you - and the ones that aren’t.  Discover how journaling can help you to write your best self in this podcast episode.  Ask better questions The quality of the questions you ask yourself [and others] will influence the quality of your life. Period.  Here’s why… Questions are like searchlights. When you ask a question, your mind is compelled to answer. What’s more, your brain looks for the answer in a single-minded way. It considers nothing else but the answer you want.  If you keep asking the same questions, you’ll keep getting the same results.  If you ask different questions, your life can open up in beautiful new ways,  Ready to put this concept into practice for yourself? If so, download the free Edison PDF. Use it to challenge your brain and see what fresh ideas your imagination can conjure up.   Find your favorite podcast How can you make the best use of your in-between times? For example, your commute to work, while prepping lunch, over the ironing, or when you're cleaning the kitchen?  As well as getting the task at hand done, you can invest in your self-education journey by listening to a podcast [or an audio book].  As a self-education habit, podcasts allow you to learn something new or be a fly on the wall in thought-provoking, game-changing conversations. You can take away fresh ideas or perspectives in an entertaining, easy to digest way.  There are podcasts for just about anything you can imagine. All you have to do is pick a subject that interests you, find a host you connect with, and get listening!  Here are a couple of places to start:  Journaling - The Writing Your Best Self Podcast Developing courage and confidence - The Courage Over Comfort Podcast Engage in deeper conversations There’s a Chinese proverb that says, "A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month's study of books." It’s true! Amazing things can happen when you really talk.  As well as being fun, conversations strengthen your relationships, help you solve problems, inspire fresh ideas, enhance your self-awareness, and even get plans into action! In other words, investing in deeper talk is a simple way to enhance your life.  Deeper conversation as a self-education habit gives you access to the knowledge available when you explore a deeper life. A deeper life is a life lived below the superficial, surface layers. It’s a place of vulnerability, soul-deep enquiry, and a commitment to uncovering the wisdom and insight that helps you live your most meaningful life.  With the help of more in-depth conversations, you can move through small talk and get to learn more from the person in front of you. You get to ask the questions that piece to the core of a subject and in doing so, you can extract life-enhancing knowledge.      Adopt a growth mindset In the words of Henry Ford, “whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.”  What you believe about yourself and the world has a disproportionate impact on how you show up and create in the world. Remember how questions direct your brain to find a specific answer? If you ask yourself why you can’t do something [or why a goal is out of the question for you], you will find plenty of answers to keep you small.  In comparison, ask yourself why you CAN do something, and you’ll find answers to that question too.  It’s up to you which path you want to take through life, and adopting a growth mindset can be a powerful self-improvement habit. Someone with a growth mindset believes you can learn talents and skills. In comparison, someone with a fixed mindset believes you’re born with ability, and you can’t nurture anymore.  Recent thinking in neuroplasticity has found that the human brain is a lot more malleable than we previously thought.  Discover more about the difference between fixed and growth mindsets here.   Self-educate your way to your best self Abraham Maslow said, ‘You will either step forward into growth or you will step backward into safety.”  There’s so much out there to experience, explore, and discover. You have the opportunity to create your own self-education curriculum and take yourself in whatever direction your heart and curiosity calls you.  Your best self is a unique definition.  And with a commitment to self-education habits, you really can unleash your full potential and create the life you came here to live. 

When you think about achieving success and becoming your best self, vulnerability as a practice may not instantly spring to mind! Vulnerability often has negative undertones and can be associated with weakness, but dive deeper into the potential of this word, and you’ll discover a new route to success. Here’s why... Vulnerability cultivates strength “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.” - Brene BrownVulnerability is a feeling that’s associated with being exposed and nudged out of your comfort zone. It’s a feeling that can show up in all kinds of situations, including: Letting your guard down in a social situation even though you feel shy, anxious and exposed. Sharing a personal story with someone you want to feel deeply connected with because you want them to know your truth - even though you’re scared they’ll reject you. Playing the bigger game you feel called to start, even though you’re terrified you’ll fail and be judged for not being good enough. Having the courage to say you don’t know the answers - even when others expect you to. Finding the words to apologize or the strength to forgive - so that you can move on with your life. As you can see from the examples above, vulnerability takes a LOT of courage and strength. The choice to be vulnerable requires you to put yourself ‘out there’ in ways that don’t feel uncomfortable. As humans, we crave security and certainty because we feel safe. If you can more or less predict what’s on the other side of a decision, there’s less chance of being unexpectedly hurt. Vulnerability puts you on a collision course with a leap of faith. But very often, that leap is exactly what you need to create the success you want because a choice to be vulnerable opens so many doors. As Brene Brown said, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.” Here’s what can happen you play in the playground of vulnerability. 1. Spark deep dive conversations Your relationships are a perfect environment to not only practice being vulnerable but to reap the benefits of putting yourself out there. Small talk is easy! The risk is pretty low when you’re talking about topics such as the weather, the latest football match, or weekend plans. The question is, do these conversations help you feel deeply connected to the person you’re talking with? For sure, small talk is appropriate for certain interactions, but if you want to connect more deeply with an individual, you have to dive beyond the surface layers. You have to take the risk and share your true self. You have to talk about your feelings, emotions, memories, and experiences rather than the ‘safe’ surface stuff. This can be uncomfortable. As social beings, we want to feel as though we belong. We fear rejection, criticism, and judgment - and that’s the risk these more vulnerable conversations pose. But the upside is HUGE. When you share what’s deeper for you, you allow other people to get to know you on a whole different level. Remember, humans connect around stories, and sharing experiences is a powerful way to discover what you have in common. More in-depth conversations promote empathy and understanding - and that can lead to more collaboration over competition. Deeper, more meaningful conversations are a powerful way to spark authentic social connections. This, in turn, builds the trust we feel with others and that helps us forge stronger social bonds. Imagine the difference this level of connection could make to your relationships? Whether it’s deeper talk with your partner, family, children, work colleagues, or friends, you can feel more connected when you surrender to vulnerability and share who you really are. 2. Unlock creativity “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”- Brené Brown Vulnerability also allows us to be less rigid in our character because it implies permission not to know all the answers and to not be perfect in every interaction. It’s easy to get funnelled into being a certain way because you feel that’s how you ‘should’ show up, and that’s what others expect of you. Rigidity prevents you from exploring all of who you are and all the opportunities that exist in the world. In comparison, vulnerability allows you to discover and express parts of your character and story that may have been hidden or even lay dormant. In this way, vulnerability can be a key that unlocks new ideas along with a willingness to take more risks - because you’re willing to take a chance.In turn, this dials up your creativity because instead of stuffing down those uncomfortable, unproven ideas, you’re more willing to experiment and give them a go. Instead of writing ideas off because you may fail or make a mistake, vulnerability allows you to breathe them to life so you can see where they might lead. And because creativity is a catalyst, there’s a strong possibility that playing in a vulnerable space will inspire you to discover the big idea that changes your life! 3. Try something new Vulnerability is a sure-fire way to expand your comfort zone. When you embrace vulnerability, you’re able to put courage over comfort - and see where it takes you. It’s so tempting to stay in our safe space, but it’s a choice that limits our life experiences. When our beliefs about who we think we are stay fixed, we write off a mass of opportunities because we tell ourselves we couldn’t possibly do that. But what if you can? Vulnerability gives you space and permission to rewrite who you are. It opens the door to new skills, talents, connections, experiences, and ideas. It allows you to do things that people wouldn’t expect - and in turn, you get to explore more of your potential and become your best self. Tools for cultivating vulnerability If you want to be more vulnerable, here are some tools and resources you may enjoy.[Discovery Deck] Intimacy Deck - deep dive questions to explore with your partner. [Workbook] 10 Deep Dive Questions That Spark Self-Discovery

Thomas Edison didn't just invent the light bulb by simply waiting around for inspiration to strike, and neither should you! Practice creating new ideas on command with the Edison Deck PDF sampler - it comes with 23 prompts and space to write your ideas! Download yours for free:

What Does It Mean To Be Your Best Self?  Congratulations! You’ve decided you want to be your best self… Now what! What does it actually mean to be your best self? How will you know you’re moving in the right direction? How do you know if something really is your best?  Good news, we’re going to answer these common questions [and more] in this article.  But first things first… As far as your ‘best self’ goes, there is no one-size-fits-all definition. Instead, the description is entirely personal. Your best self will never be the same as someone else’s - so resist the temptation to go down the comparison route. That never feels good! Instead, remember that we’re all different. We all have different talents, skills, challenges, and journeys. So when it comes to defining your best self, know that you get to choose what that means for yourself.  Better still, your definition doesn’t need to be fixed in stone. Instead, it will almost certainly change over time. As you achieve goals, check through your bucket list, and revise your ambitions, you’ll uncover more and more about who you really are.  And as a result, your best self definition will expand.  I think that’s one of the most beautiful things about being human. We’re never really ‘done’. There’s always more we could do and explore. In short, our comfort zones can expand infinitely, which makes your best self a journey, NOT a destination. That’s right; there’s nowhere specific you need to reach because your best self is a state of BEING.  That said, there are ‘best self’ indicators that can help you feel confident you’re moving in the right direction. Let’s explore some of these now… Taking full ownership for your life It’s harder to be your best self when someone else is calling the shots. When you’re holding the reins, you’re empowered to make the choices and decisions that ensure your best self thrives.  Knowing you’ve given things your best shot Your best self isn’t about winning all of the time. That simply isn’t how life works. If you’re exploring the edges of your comfort zone, it’s almost inevitable that some things won’t work out the way you planned. But that doesn’t matter. You can still be your best self - even during chaos and failure - if you’re doing the best you can with the resources you have.  If you’re proud of your efforts and the way you showed up, that’s you being your best.  Moving forward with your life   As individuals, we have the opportunity to grow constantly. Every day presents earning opportunities that inspire us to make new distinctions about ourselves and the world.  Your best self wants to extract what it can from these experiences. That way, you can go to bed knowing you’re a little bit better than you were yesterday as a result of living another day.  Committed to the right habits What’s more important than the big showcase sprints, is your daily actions. How are you cultivating energy and enthusiasm to be your best self - no matter what? How are you taking care of your health and your wellbeing? How are you nurturing your creativity and excitement?  If your chosen habits bring out your best, that’s a sure-fire sign your best self is thriving.  Feeling good about who you are Are you able to pat yourself on the back, or do you rely on other people to do that for you? Self-love is a catalyst for so much. When you appreciate and love the person you are, you show up in the world in a different way entirely than someone who doesn’t feel worthy or good enough.  That’s why becoming your best self involves learning to love yourself too.  Investing in yourself Your best self is infinitely curious to know what else is possible. You can nurture this desire by investing in tools, courses, relationships, books, education, communities, and mentors etc. that inspire you to keep learning, sharpen your skills, and explore your passions. Knowledge is a key that throws open the door to new possibilities - and that potential excites your best self immensely.  Your own your strengths and talents There are things you can do better than anyone else you know. Your best self owns and appreciates these attributes instead of playing them down - because they help you show up more skillfully and impactfully in the world.  Recognize your limits Your best self knows you can’t do everything by yourself. They’re not afraid to ask for help or seek support because they know this can be a catalyst to get to the next step.  Living with integrity Your best self does the things they say they’re going to do - even if no one is watching.  This level of commitment to your promises helps fuel unstoppable self-confidence because you know you can rely on yourself to do what’s necessary.  Be kind to yourself Your best self learns quickly from mistakes - and while no one likes to get things wrong, your best self doesn’t use failure as an opportunity to be hard on itself. A little bit of kindness goes a long way - and this inspires the confidence that it’s OK to take bigger risks.  High energy When you feel physically tired and mentally drained, it’s hard to think straight and act with conviction. That’s why your best self does what it can to create and conserve energy, so you don’t get burnt out.  Time for you While you love being of service to others, your best self knows that it needs self-care time to rest, repair, and replenish too. Your best self doesn’t feel guilty for taking time out or for doing things that are just for you. Instead, your best self protects this time. It’s non-negotiable because it makes it easier for you to be your best.  Feeling good about how you spend your time Time is your most valuable, non-renewable resource. Once spent, you can't get those minutes back. Your best self respects the time and is purposeful about where minutes go. This diligence fuels a higher level of happiness and satisfaction in your life.    A life well-lived Your best self turns your bucket list and life goals into real-life experiences. You get the important things done and in turn create your best life.  Stretch goals You don’t settle for mediocrity or the status quo. Instead, your best self sets challenging goals, which excite and inspire you to step up. More importantly, your best self knows that if you can think it, you can also achieve it, so they don’t get stopped or bogged down in doubt.  Creates work-life harmony  Work is important to your best self, but it’s not everything. Instead, your best self consciously invests time and energy into all life areas because they’re looking for all-round fulfillment - not a one-dimensional life.  Being your best for others Life is better when you're around people we love - and who love us for who we are. When you're at your best, you consciously connect with the right people. You cultivate the deep connections and conversations that leave you feeling loved, seen, and heard by others for who you are.  You have time for the things you love You don't delay things you enjoy for another time. Instead, you proactively make time for your passions, hobbies, and interest on your schedule.  Be your best self The idea of unlocking your best self is a commitment that can take a lifetime [if you choose]. It’s a journey that brings you closer to yourself every single day and empowers you to think bigger and achieve more while you enjoy today.  Your best self can be anything you can imagine.  So go fun on this journey and make it your own. And remember you’re not alone, we’re here to help you wherever we can.

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in your work, your goals and your obligations to other people that you neglect your own well-being. It can feel selfish or even self-indulgent to make time for yourself. You’re focused on achieving great things, so why waste time with yourself?However, this is the wrong attitude to have. To achieve external success, you have to start within and learn how to focus on yourself. How to Focus on Yourself in 6 Ways Here are six strategies we’ve found to help you focus on yourself (in an unselfish way). 1. Practice Self-Love “Self-love” may sound like a sentimental concept that only long-haired hippies in tie-dyed shirts practice, but it’s actually something that can benefit everyone. Self-love means being kind to yourself, minimizing negative self-talk and making more room for positive self-evaluation.As an entrepreneur, your ability to identify areas that need improvement is one of your most valuable skills. But while this can work well for business, the same attitude can be disastrous for your emotional well-being if you apply it too personally. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to become a better person, but you have to approach it from a place of growth and positivity, not self-loathing and dissatisfaction. 2. Try New Things If you’re only working on your job, you risk getting stuck in a rut. Your job becomes your only identity, with nothing else existing outside of work. While we’re all for commitment to your job (especially if the work is meaningful and in line with your values), it’s important to continue to try new things beyond it. Doing so keeps you creative and energized, which not only helps you do good work in your job, but also live a richer life overall.One of the best ways to try new things is to take up a new hobby. This could be something related to your job, but we encourage you to think beyond that. Maybe you want to learn a new language, try a new sport or build things with your hands. Go with whatever hobby you want — just be sure to focus on the learning and self-improvement that will come with it, not worrying about whether it will make money. 3. Make Time for Loved Ones The people in our lives have a massive effect on the quality of our lives. Yet, we often forget this when we set goals, focusing only on making more money or gaining recognition. In the process, we neglect the people closest to us. What’s worse, it’s easy to rationalize this single-minded focus as an act of love towards our family members. For we think that if we can just achieve a certain level of success, we’ll be able to provide for them and ensure their security.In reality, however, this isn’t a tradeoff worth making. You have to make time for the ones you love now, no matter where you are in your career or business. Life is passing by either way — better to spend it with the most important people in your life while you can. The dying don’t wish they’d spent more time working (quite the opposite). 4. Cultivate a Healthy Lifestyle Good health is at the root of all other successful endeavors. You can push your body hard in the short term, going without adequate rest or good nutrition. But this isn’t sustainable behavior over the long term. Eventually, your body will get sick and fatigued, taking you out of work until you recover. It’s better to operate at a healthy, sustainable pace than to burn out in pursuit of fleeting gains.The first big thing you can do to improve your health is to get enough sleep. Sleep may seem like a waste of time, but it’s quite the opposite. It’s what you need to keep your body strong and your brain energized. Aim for seven to eight hours per night (longer if you have a demanding workout program).Speaking of working out, every healthy lifestyle includes some sort of physical practice. We prefer this term to “exercise” because most of us tend to associate exercise with running or lifting weights. While these are both fine forms of exercise, they represent just a small sample of the physical activities available. Pick one that you really like, and do it every day (just don’t overdo it, as injuring yourself is counterproductive). Finally, a healthy lifestyle requires healthy food. The specifics of what you eat will depend on your dietary preferences and level of physical activity. But everyone can benefit from eating more whole foods and less processed, packaged food. Oh, and you should probably drink more water than you currently do (keep a glass or bottle by you while you work to make this easy). 5. Nurture Your Self-Esteem We already mentioned the importance of self-love in learning how to focus on yourself, but we can’t forget another essential self-quality: self-esteem. Feeling good about who you are and where you’re going are crucial for success in other areas of life, as well as your general happiness. And it goes beyond you: The positive energy that comes from high self-esteem is contagious, powering up the people you come into contact with.To boost your self-esteem, you need to focus on the positive. Think of the good things you’ve accomplished, whether at work, in your family, through a hobby or in your community. This will help remind you that, no matter what you’re struggling with, you can achieve the things you set out to accomplish.Additionally, remember that you are more than your accomplishments. You have intrinsic value as a person that goes beyond money or utility to society. You must recognize this in order to truly have high self-esteem. 6. Keep a Journal Self-reflection is a key part of focusing on yourself. And there’s no better way we’ve found to self-reflect than keeping a journal. The right journal will help you organize your thoughts, notice patterns in your emotions, and feel more in control of your life’s direction.Not sure what to write about? Pick a journal that has prompts. Or just write about how you don’t know what to write about. Journaling isn’t about producing masterful prose that other people will read. The value comes from the process and the self-reflection that journaling enables. Don’t Neglect Yourself We hope you now see how important it is to focus on yourself. Far from being selfish, this activity will help increase your effectiveness in all areas of your life, as well as boosting your happiness and well-being. Try just one of the above ideas today and see what impact it has on your life.

With 2023 open, there’s a blank canvas in front of you. The question is, what will you paint onto it? What adventures will you have? What goals will you achieve? What memories will you make? What people will you meet?  A new year gives us the chance to be intentional with our next steps.  We get to try on new beliefs and routines. We get to play with new ways of being and inspired ways of living.  We get to create life anew inside the context of the desires we hold for our lives.  These nine tips and practices will inspire you to create your best year yet.  1. Reflect on 2022 You can’t move forward until you’ve first looked back to see how far you’ve come. That’s what reflection is all about. It’s developing the self-awareness that helps you consolidate everything you’ve done and learned in the past 12 months. If you jump straight into next-step planning, you’ll miss out on all the insights and knowledge the past 12 months have gifted you. In turn, you’re more likely to make needless mistakes, move forward slowly, and even make the wrong decisions. Reflection is a skill promoted and practiced by some of the world’s top performers and athletes. They know it ensures you learn from your mistakes and make better choices and decisions in the future. Discover how to reflect on 2023 with this downloadable workbook.  2. DON’T set New Year’s resolutions!  If you do nothing else after reading this article, this is the tip to pick!  According to science, 92% of people never achieve their New Year’s Resolutions. The problem with New Year’s Resolutions is that they're too vague. For example, I want to lose weight, I want to start a business, or I want to write a book.  These resolutions don’t hold you to account for your results because there’s no deadline and no specificity. If you lack clarity, it’s all too easy to stay in the status quo. After all, we’re creatures of habit and given a chance we’ll revert to what we know [and where we feel comfortable].  So this year, set SMART goals instead of New Year’s resolutions. It’s the most effective way to set yourself up for success. Your Self Journal can help you with this.  3. Create a vision With a vision, you have an overarching context that you can live into. When you know who you want to be (as well as what you desire to have and do), it’s easier to step fully into your best self.  Use visioning to jump into the future and get a sense of what you want to create. When you know your destination, you can work backwards to figure out your next steps.  20/20 vision is a powerful tool for creating your best year yet. Spend some time crafting yours with the 20/20 Vision Workbook.  4. Plan your time It’s risky business to leave your New Year plans to chance. Despite your best intentions, when your time feels short and other priorities demand your attention, it’s all too easy to procrastinate on your goals.  A planner will help you manage your time and your priorities. In turn, you move the needle consistently on what matters most.  Use your planner to map out your day with the same diligence and detail that you budget your money.  Schedule tasks in the same way you would appointments - to ensure you optimize the time it takes to do everything on your to-do list.  When time feels as if it’s on your side, it’s easier to work smarter [not harder], so you can accomplish more.   5. Discover your Core Values.  What’s most important to you? Define your core values, and you’ll activate an inner compass that empowers you to head in the direction that’s most aligned to your best self.  One of the easiest ways to define your core values is through the intuitive process of sifting through words and picking those that resonate most with you.  You can do this with the help of the Core Values Deck. With your values defined, feel into what each value means for you (because we all have a personal take). Finally, infuse your values into your day intentionally. In turn, you’ll feel empowered to live a life in alignment.  6. Aim for work-life harmony It’s tempting to put all your time and energy into one specific goal.  But true happiness comes from feeling fulfilled in all areas of your life. Work-life harmony means success in your relationships, your finances, your health, and your hobbies - as well as your career/business.  When your work gets the best of you, it’s easy to let other areas slip.  But you can push back against this trend through daily 10-minute practices. For example:  • Schedule a regular walk/run/yoga class• Commit to a 10-minute meditation [Headspace has a free course to get you started]• Make time for an in-depth conversation with your partner or your children with the help of the Intimacy and Little Talk Decks, respectively. • Increase your knowledge and skills by reading or listening to podcasts • Small daily actions soon compound into something meaningful.    7. Create a Live List We all have a list of things we’d love to do at some point in our lives. But how many of those items have you planned to do?  At some point, there won’t be ‘time’, or you won’t have the energy or health.  Don’t leave things to chance. Instead, create your live list and set the intention to experience some of them in 2023: • Figure out the budget needed to pay for them. • Schedule time on your calendar.  • Decide what preparation is necessary and plan it. Imagine how you’ll feel this time next year, knowing you achieved some life dreams.  Best of all, with these checked off, as well as a host of incredible memories, you’ll also create space to add new experiences and adventures to your bucket list.  [Need the inspiration to add to your Live List? We’ve got you covered with these 103 ideas.]  8. Use self-reflection to hold yourself accountable Life is unpredictable! You never quite know what’s around the corner. Your best-laid plans can face disruption - even if you write them into your planner.  Self-reflection is a powerful practice that can help you differentiate between the things you can’t control and the things you can. By reflecting on your daily performance and approach, you can see where you’ve been procrastinating vs fire-fighting.  Your best self requires you to stay committed to your path - and that’s not always easy. Doubts will creep in, and leaving your comfort zone can send you into a tailspin.  When you hold yourself to account through your reflection practice, it’s easier to differentiate between excuses and reality. You’ll discover plenty of reflection questions in the Writing Your Best Self podcast.  9. Write down your wins Your big-thinking goals will push you out of your comfort zone. There’s no doubt about that. Things can get hairy when you’re thriving in discomfort. Doubts and fears can hold you back and make you question yourself. Before you know it, you’ve become stagnant!  The good news is there’s a super simple way you can inspire yourself to keep moving - even when you don’t want to, and even when the path ahead feels too hard.  Make it a habit to write down your wins every day - no matter how small. You can use the Win The Day pads to help with this.  Over time, you’ll create a catalogue of successes, which you can refer back to anytime self-doubt creeps in. When you have proof that you've done it before, you’ll find it easier to believe that you can step up again.  Ready to make 2023 an incredible year?  With the help of these seven tips and techniques to kick-start your plans, you can mastermind your best year yet. You’ve got this!

‘Aim to be the best you can be.’ This is a powerful phrase that’s thrown around a lot in the self-development field. But what does it actually mean, why is this something to strive towards, and how do you go about becoming the best version of yourself? It’s what we’ll explore in this article. What does it mean to be your ‘best self? Somehow, your best self implies there are two versions of you. The ‘you’ right now, and the ‘you’ that you have the potential to be (if you’re willing to take certain actions and decisions). In other words, there’s a gap to close because there’s more you could be, do, and have if you stay hungry to explore your limits and learn more about your strengths and capabilities. That could be better relationships, more money, a bigger business, a healthier body, more exciting hobbies - your definition of ‘best’ will be unique to you depending on where you feel you’re falling behind in your potential or aspirations. In this way, wanting to be the best you can be is a powerful motivator that forces you to take a more intentional path through life. It inspires you to look for the growth opportunities and it reminds you to figure out where you could step up. Your best self is a journey, not a destination. In fact, it’s a journey that’s never going to end, but don’t be put off by that! Instead, see this an empowering concept where you have limitless potential for growth. You’ll have already seen this in your life. Just when you think you’ve reached your limits, somehow you take another step and a whole new world of possibility opens up. That’s why your best self is also an attitude. It’s a commitment to being better today than you were yesterday. It’s a conscious choice to keep striving, and growing, and learning from every experience that comes your way. It’s a self-love journey too because being your best requires you to recognize that you are ‘work in progress’. It reminds you to appreciate your achievements and be grateful for what you already have while at the same time knowing there’s always more in your tank. It’s the more challenging path Living to become your best self is the harder path through life. Sure, it’s a mindset that creates the space for incredible relationships, impactful businesses, ideas that change the world, and an insatiable zest for life. But it’s also a route that’s going to be hard. If you’ve ever tried to be your best, you’ll know that personal growth is painful. You take on things you have no idea how to do and fail miserably! You get knocked down. You feel out of your depth and overwhelmed. You drown in discomfort and you’re forced to let old things go as your identity shifts and evolves. But that’s part of the magic of this path. • Every failure creates new insights• You get stronger every time you get back up• Discomfort expands your comfort zone• Letting go creates space for new opportunities Then there’s the elation of achieving an ‘impossible’ goal. The self-esteem boost from figuring it out. The confidence rush when you decide you won’t be beaten. There’s also the excitement of trying new things. The thrill of mastering a new skill and the courage to continually rediscover who you are. Yes! The journey to be the best you can be is addictive, transformative, and one of the most rewarding commitments you can make to yourself in this life. Better still, it’s also a personal project too. There is no right or wrong when it comes to your unique journey - there’s only your way. What’s most important to you will be wildly different from what someone else deems essential. But how do you do it? What are the strategies and mindsets that empower you to be the best you can be - even when you’re feeling beaten, disillusioned, and low in confidence. Check out these five. Five ways to be the best you can be 1. Embrace failure No one likes to be seen to fail. We’re social beings and losing face in front of other people never feels good! But reluctance to fail is always going to hold you back - because it reduces your scope for experimenting and exploring. If you want to be the best you can be you have to take risks. You need to step out into the unknown and do things you’ve never done before. Hindsight is the best thing and there will be plenty of times you’ll wish you had a time machine! But if you never try you never know. Give yourself permission to fail. This may be a big hurdle to overcome - especially if you’re a perfectionist. Work to shift your beliefs about failure and remind yourself that every mistake is an opportunity to learn. It’s true. Failure actually makes you better - if you allow yourself to adopt the mindset that makes this a reality. 2. Invest in the inner journey If you want to be the best you can be, you’ve got to invest in your own inner journey - this is a non-negotiable. You need to be able to reflect on experiences, your beliefs, your thoughts, and your goals. Continually build your self-awareness and you’ll unlock the inner wisdom and insights to understand your strengths, weaknesses, fears, self-imposed limits, dreams, desires, goals - the list goes on. The deeper your relationship with yourself, the more empowered you’ll be to be your best. It’s why so many top-performers and high achievers swear by their journaling practice - because all the answers are inside. 3. Set stretching goals You’ll never know how much you can do and how far you can go until you push yourself. That’s the power of setting your goals. They take you out of your comfort zone and inspire you to create or experience something you don’t have currently. Goals force you to commit, focus, innovate, and problem solve. They’re a catalyst for diving into your reserves to pull it out of the bag! Your goals create a huge learning experience too. Reflect on your performance and you’ll discover your limiting beliefs as well as unhelpful behaviors and triggers. Use your goals to sharpen your self-awareness and as well as achieving extraordinary, you’ll learn more about yourself too. 4. Commit to continuous improvement We’ve already said that being your best is a work in progress. You’ll never truly hit the summit of your potential because each stage of growth creates new learning opportunities. That’s why being your best is something you have to work on everyday. It’s not enough to invest in ad hoc sprints and bursts of activity, instead you have to make your best a habit. Go after the 1% improvements. Ask yourself how you could make something 1% better than yesterday. Do this everyday and you won’t recognize yourself in 12 months time. The amount of growth you’ll experience will be astronomical! 5. Cultivate positivity Henry Ford said it best, “whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” You can’t be your best if your inner critic continually undermines you. ‘You’re not good enough’, that’s too hard for you’, you failed before’, ‘people like you don’t do things like that’... The list is endless! Here’s the good news… Positivity can be learned. Even if you’re the most negative person you know, it is possible to develop a positive mindset. Sure, it’s not an overnight thing. It will take time and commitment, but make it one of your 1% things and you’ll be amazed what you can achieve when you brainwash yourself with positivity. It’s easier than you think… Turn off the negative news. Don’t engage in conversations that pull you down. Listen to positive audios, podcasts, and music. Repeat affirmations. Visualize positive outcomes. Make a big thing of your successes (even the small ones). Make positivity the default and slowly, but surely your default mindset can change. Being the best you can be starts today It’s never too late to commit to becoming your best self. Regardless of where you are on your journey through life, you can take proactive steps today to explore more of your potential and step closer to the person you really want to be. We’re here to help with tools, ideas, and community support to help you get out of your comfort zone. All you’ve got to do is start. Over to you… What’s one thing can you do today to be the best you can be?