One of my daily mantras that consider in my morning routine—in what I have now come to call my “grattitude journal”—is the statement “Be your best today; be better tomorrow.” The admonishment appears at the conclusion of each of these postings. The motivation implies constant improvement (“kaizen” to use the Japanese business philosophy). The reality is that I seldom feel like I am better today than I was a day ago, a week ago, a month ago…. To some degree, it is because growth moves toward an asymptote, and the more we grow the harder it is to achieve perceivable growth. Our standard grows higher. To some degree, growth comes in unseen areas—we are often focused on our worst self. Growth is also an attitude (a grattitude) more than a quantifiable reality. Consider it like a refined eyeglass prescription that allows us to see ourselves with increasing clarity.
It is often hard to be satisfied with our state of “well-centered fitness”—our Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social dimensions of wellness (SPIES). Growth reveals our inadequacies and drives the desire for further growth. Too much emphasis on any one dimension can lead to dysfunction (e.g., body dysmorphia in body building). Growth of the whole self should be perceived as uncomfortably slow but not discouraging or overwhelming. The target (i.e., the asymptote) will always seem too distant. The motivation comes from self-reflection—from looking back at how far we have come. Kaizen leads us forward—often discouraged but never defeated. The motto of the Scottish clan Armstrong is Invictus maneo—“I remain unvanquished.”
I teach exercise physiology and programming. So, my mind goes to the physical model of fitness and the principles of adaptation. Growth (e.g., muscle) requires progressive overload. The principle of overload is stated as: for a body system to adapt it must be stressed to a level greater than that to which it is accustomed. SPIES growth is no different. As we can’t grow every muscle and physiological system simultaneously (this is the principle of specificity—the body make specific adaptations to imposed demands). SPIES growth is specific. Growth in one dimension often reveals the deficiencies in another (e.g., Spiritual growth will most certainly reveal the need for growth in the Social and Emotional dimensions). Sometimes, we are so focused on our progress (or lack thereof) in a specific area that we fail to see our overall growth.
“Be better tomorrow” should be words of encouragement rather than discouragement. It requires patient and determination. It requires an attitude of gratitude (grattitude). Growth is, of course, a process. Sometimes, we must remind ourselves to just….
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!