Be Your Own Coach Series: Unique You

People in general often spend an exorbitant amount of time comparing themselves to others. We notice what someone is wearing, driving, or where they are going on their summer vacations. Sometimes, there is even a secret desire to be a different person altogether. Read the Harlequin Romance novels if there is any doubt. The media does not help any with all of its seductive advertisements that lull us quietly into an idolatrous state through jazzy commercials featuring handsome guys driving luxury cars, air-brushed models, and television shows misrepresenting loving relationships.

 Despite this barrage of rhetoric to not be happy with being you, there are some people that do somehow manage and even excel to discover their own uniqueness. They believe self-development work is fun and interesting. Consider what keeps them content despite the pressures they face to be someone else? Quite simply, they have learned to celebrate their uniqueness. Their energy is spent being their best selves and identifying their strengths that they can leverage, instead of analyzing and focusing on all of their shortcomings and weaknesses. What if you could do likewise? How would your life transform being unique you? These tips should help. Take a moment to think about and write down all of the things that you like about yourself. Reflect a bit. It may be your smile, that special signature at the end of emails, the encouragement that you offer your friends who need a pick-me-up, or something as delicious as making fluffy, scrambled eggs. You may also be the more conscientiousness worker, or an expert in mechanical things. Speaking or being athletically gifted may be your talent. Another way to see how truly unique you are, is to look at your finger print on a sunny day. Notice all of the lines and curves. Watch the way the light emphasizes the rich details. This may sound cliché, but no person is exactly identical, which means that your unique set of talents, qualities, looks, strengths, and values makes you special. Take a few moments or hours to contemplate your value from this vantage point. What would change in your world if this was your lens? How would your 365 days be spent differently if each day was lived being the best you? More importantly, imagine how others would be impacted if you practiced this standard. It is something to definitely consider as you delve deeper into this journey to find your own uniqueness.

Being you takes commitment, but it results in a life well lived. Instead of belaboring over what you are not, all of your intention is focused on helping you be the best possible you; the one the world needs, the unique and incredible one.