#BeInspired Mondays: Why becoming ‘The Best’ is not enough

It’s a good thing to want a good thing – to want to be the best at what you do, or what you are aspiring to do. I also want to be the best. The purpose of this article however, is to share another direction to doing so.

The term ‘best’, is a superlative function of a class. Whenever the word ‘best’ is used, it means the discourse is about a class.

One cannot talk about being the best without stating the class where that “best” is attained. You can be the best in mathematics, singing, football, acting, or whatever but worthy of note is that if your class exists, other classes exist too.

The standard for accruing best-ness in another class may be so high, that you – the best in your class – will be a minute entity when in that class.

This is where I’m going to: if you struggle to be the best, that’s what you’ll be doing for the rest of your life- struggling! Because you’ve placed yourself in the box of society-created class.

You’ve left the measurement of your personal fulfilment in the hands of the society. Being the best is good, but there’s something better…

..It’s being your best. See, there’s no one like you in all the earth. This is not some motivational mumbling to elate you. You’re so unique, that if you decide to be(ing) your best, you become incomparable.

So, while striving to be the best, also note that being your best is better.

I used to have bragging rights for being the best during my primary school, and it got to a point when I got complacent. One 3 occasions, I got evicted from my ‘best’ position. Although I didn’t go far down, reflecting on it right now has taught me new lessons.

If you are worried about being the best among a group of people, you may never get to do really great things.

The reason is that the other people become your standard and competition and when they go low, you may consciously or unconsciously stop going high (or start going low) telling yourself you are still ‘ahead’ of them.

Your number one competition should be you. Humankind has an inherent thirst to do better and keep getting better. Always strive to out-do your last performance or success. It will give you fulfilment, and you stand a better chance of being ‘the best’.

Thoughts? Please share