Your sense of self is ever-changing, not static. There’s the person you are at home, which is likely different from who you are at work or school. How you act and present yourself in public may be quite different from how you are with loved ones.
But which one is your best self? You may feel like it’s a combination of all those options mentioned above — or none of them at all.
Learning how to be true to yourself is an age-old struggle. You may feel that your mind, body, and heart tell you to act one way, but society demands you to act differently.
But exploring your authentic self can teach you how to be true to yourself in a relationship, to be comfortable in your own skin, and to live the life of your dreams.
Putting in the work can be overwhelming, but it’s worth it in the long run. That’s why we put together these tips, on how to be the best version of yourself.
What does it mean to be the best version of yourself?
Being your best self means living authentically.
To be your best self, you need to stay true to yourself and your values. You also need to make sure you’re doing what brings you a sense of happiness, purpose, and meaning. Being your best self isn’t dependent on life being smooth or perfect — it’s about what you can control.
Also key: is sustainability. You wouldn’t want to trade your tomorrow for the way you’re living today. Being your best self means understanding and unlocking your potential.
Tune out unhelpful comments from others, in favor of focusing on your needs and setting goals. This mindset applies to school, your career, relationships, health, and personal development.
Your best life will be different than someone else’s. There’s no “one right path” to living authentically and finding your true north.
10 strategies to help you become the best version of yourself
There are no high school courses titled “how to become the best version of yourself 101,” so it may seem overwhelming to figure out where to begin. To get started, here are 10 tips to be the best version of yourself:
1. Don’t delay
Thinking about running that marathon? Register today. Eager to pursue that degree? Start preparing your application.
The first step to doing anything worthwhile is beginning. And while it can be quite challenging to make that initial leap, without kicking off the process, you won’t get anywhere.
2. Prioritize what matters to you — not others
You’ll never feel fulfilled if you live trying to meet someone else's expectations. Instead, channel your effort and energy toward what matters to you.
That may be your family, travel, or reading a good book regularly. Only you can determine what’s most important to your happiness and sense of purpose in life.
Spend time around people who encourage positive self-talk and make you feel good about yourself.
3. Don’t sweat the small stuff
Unexpected events will undoubtedly arise as you go through life. You’ll make errors and embarrass yourself. That’s okay. Learn from your mistakes and setbacks and be grateful for the progress you’re making.
4. Accept help from others
Your pride can hold you back from accepting praise and evolving. Try to work against this, and accept help rather than denying it.
There’s no need to travel the road to find your best self alone. BetterUp coaches are here to help keep you accountable and provide the perspective you need to carry on when the going gets tough.
5. Take a break from social media
Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and even Linkedin are deeply embedded in our lives. But even as social media keeps us connected and informed, it can lead to comparison and self-doubt.
If you find that scrolling your feeds leaves you feeling down, not uplifted, try to establish boundaries. And if you feel inadequate as you browse social media, remember people tend to post their highlights, not low moments.
6. Celebrate small victories
The little things matter.
Celebrating even small wins will give you the motivation to keep going until you reach your final goal. If you’re focusing on one big goal, try splitting it into steps so that you’re seeing progress. Don’t forget to reward yourself as you hit benchmarks and milestones!
7. Exercise daily
Exercise brings a wealth of positive effects to your everyday life:
- According to a study from 2017, exercise creates better blood flow to the hippocampus region of your brain — a region that’s crucial for your memory. This translates into better working memory and focus. You’ll be more productive and efficient.
- Physical activity also clears your mind and delivers a rush of oxygen to your tissues that helps your organs work more efficiently, which gives you more physical energy.
- And, of course, exercise makes a big difference to your long-term health, helping prevent chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your best self is a healthy self.
Your opinion is important. Stand up and speak up. It may be nerve-wracking, but the more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel.
9. Embrace failure
In order to experience growth, you’ll need to get out of your comfort zone.
You’ll never develop new skills, discover new interests and passions, or experience personal growth without risks.
Failure can be the best teacher if you take the time to reflect and do the work to learn from it.
10. Stop looking for short-cuts
These don't exist when it comes to self-improvement. It takes patience and hard work. Period.
How to find the motivation to be the best version of yourself
Finding the motivation to do daily tasks is tough. Summoning up the drive to make a big change — like choosing to live authentically — is even tougher. You’ll be more likely to succeed if you uncover why you want to create the best version of yourself.
That way, you’ll avoid sabotaging yourself before you even get started. Staying disciplined is easier if you can clearly see the rewards ahead.
Humans can be intrinsically or extrinsically motivated. Intrinsic motivation means finding motivation within yourself. You can tap into this if you enjoy challenges or like learning new things.
Extrinsic motivation means that you do something either for a reward, like praise or a good grade. It can also be to avoid the consequences of not doing it, like being reprimanded at work.
You may find that you need to find both extrinsic and intrinsic motivators to keep you working toward being your best self. If you’re struggling to feel ambitious, try taking a break to recharge. Or, talk to someone about how you’re feeling.
3 extra tips to be the best version of yourself
As you strive toward authenticity and being the best possible version of you, it’s wise to remember the following:
1. Your values
Whether it’s family, trust, loyalty, hard work, or kindness, what you value is at the core of what defines you. Your personal values define how you view the world and others in it.
2. Your strengths
Everyone has both hard and soft skills and is capable of accomplishing a ton. Focus on developing your strengths — these will help you overcome hurdles.
You may feel like you’re traveling in a completely different direction than others, especially if you’re not where you want to be. Take a moment to appreciate what your mind and body do for you. You’ll get there.
Moving forward
Learning how to be the best version of yourself is a life-long journey. You’ll grow and change at each new chapter. But, with these ten tips, each iteration will be better than the last. It’s a lot of work, but your personal growth is worth it.
We believe that everyone is capable and deserving of this transformation. We’ll help you cultivate and balance that go-getter hustle with smart moves to ensure that the steps you take will sustain your health and happiness. If you’re willing to put in the work, we’re here to support you.
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