My Radiant, My Resilient Self: Greater Self

Greater Self

I love adventurous movies. The characters have a clear destination and are pursuing something significant. Along the way, they face numerous adversities, as someone else often vies for the same goal. These rivals will do everything they can to impede progress and be the first to achieve it. Frequently, the characters fight for their lives, not only against their enemies but also against the many dangers, traps, hindrances, and obstacles along their path to the destination.

Close your eyes and envision yourself in front of a mirror. You know deep down that there is something extraordinary about you. Although you cannot quite identify what it is, you have a strong sense that it exists. With this belief, you find motivation in videos and purchase books on personal development. Your journey begins promisingly, but then an obstacle arises. Perhaps you fall ill, or an unexpected bill suddenly comes due. Unfortunately, your pursuit of self-discovery gets derailed as other pressing issues take priority.

This above all: to thine own self be true. . . –Shakespeare

Have you ever wondered why something always comes up when you decide to pursue greatness? It's like it happens out of nowhere. You have to put yourself on the back burner for the umpteenth time.

Could it be that the things that "happen out of nowhere" are areas of yourself that you need to work on? We often want to jump directly into tackling the big goals, but addressing the smaller areas of our lives first can help us develop the discipline necessary to maintain more significant achievements in the long run.

Begin by identifying the issues that arise most frequently in your life. Are they related to health, relationships, or finances? Once you have recognized these problems, please pay attention to how you respond and what you think and feel about them.

For example, let's say your primary issue is relational. Initially, you might ignore the significant fallout from a recent conflict and choose to engage in retail therapy instead. Even though you have financial obligations, you convince yourself that shopping will help you feel better. When the bill comes due, you find yourself stressed because you don't have the money to pay it. To cope, you might take out a payday advance to cover the expense. However, the stress intensifies when your next paycheck arrives because you now have additional bills to address. As a result, your relationship remains strained, and this cycle leads to further financial distress.

Alternatively, consider the same scenario, but you cope by binge-eating sweet treats instead of shopping. In doing so, you steadily gain the weight you desperately tried to lose. When you visit the doctor, you receive concerning news: they want you to return for repeat blood work in three months due to questionable results.

To start the process, begin by accepting and being honest with yourself. We all have areas in life where we excel and areas where we struggle. These are our strengths and weaknesses. Many people find it difficult to acknowledge their weaknesses, but it's important to remind yourself that it's okay. We will use our weaknesses as a springboard for success.

1. List 3-5 strengths and weaknesses

2. Understand how each can either propel or hinder your progress.

3. You have already identified areas that frequently arise. Now, see if you can distinguish between areas to continue improving and areas that may require change. For example, loyalty in relationships may be your strength, while communicating your thoughts and feelings could be a weakness.