“We should devote ourselves to being self-sufficient and must not depend upon the external ratings by others for our happiness.” – Bruce Lee
Too often we crave the applause. We seek approval. We wish to be liked by everyone.
Too often we search for answers outside. Assuming others know better. Chasing the experts and the self-professed ‘gurus’.
Too often we are left unfulfilled.
Inside Out, Not Outside In
The answers we seek outside are often likely to come from within. This is where we should start. This is where we should invest ourselves.
External sources can, and often will help, but we also have to spend time inside.
To develop our best self, we need to have an awareness of who we are and who we want to be. Are these aligned? Are we living true to the person we want to be? If not, we have work to do.
We need to know what triggers negative emotions in us. What sort of people and occasions suck our energy? When we have identified these, we have work to do to. Either finding a way to deal with them better or avoiding them completely.
We need to know what drives us. We need to know what success will really look like for us. Are the choices we are making aligned with that vision? Are the sacrifices we are making worth the end goal? If not, we have work to do. We need to set a new course.
We have to work hard for our goals, if we want them to happen. Knowing this is an active, not passive process. Committing ourselves to the process of turning up ready to do our best, over and over.
We need to learn to be self-sufficient, to forget seeking the approval or validation of others to prove we are on the right path. Knowing if it is a path we have chosen, then that is all the validation we need.
Search within, then go from inside out.