For compulsive perfectionistas, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that excellence equates to perfection. It doesn’t. That’s one of the (many) things I love about the work of Don Miguel Ruiz
I love Don Miguel’s gentleness. In his new book, The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery, he recaps the first four agreements. For this one he says, in part, “Your best is, in fact, the only thing you can do.” Maintaining the intention to do your best means that one day when you are battling an allergy, your best will look different than on a day when you are feeling well rested and not suffering from the pollen count or cat hairs in your nose.
Embodying excellence implies it’s in your bones. It means giving yourself fully to what is square in front of you, doing whatever you need to do with a level of mindfulness and care that turns everyday actions into moving meditations. This refers to making the soup or mowing the lawn or walking the dog as well as writing the blog post or being with clients.
Embodying excellence is in fact the daily practice that helps you traverse the Write Synergies Path to Owning Your Greatness. Embodying excellence is also related to Don Miguel’s “Always do your best,” in that both imply the daily, even moment-to-moment practice. Like writing, like doing scales on a musical instrument, the intention to embody excellence is in itself a practice that builds mindfulness. We get better at the important things by choosing what they are and then practicing.
Just about a year ago, I had the great privilege to spend an extended several days in a sacred vessel called Magnify Your Excellence, a weekend workshop convened by Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski. My time with these master wisdom teachers changed everything, opened up doors and windows I didn’t even know were there. During that time and after, we occupied a space of truly standing in all the power and immense beauty of our deepest authentic selves, abundant with gifts to offer our communities.
Your excellence? It’s you. It’s your presence in the moment. It’s bringing your shiny highest and best self to the party every moment you can possibly wake up and remember to do it. It is the process and practice of consciousness and mindfulness in all you do. And in doing this, you will be owning your greatness — whether you write a word or not.
Connect on Twitter with the #blog30 community. Â Connect with Judith and Jim through the Soft Sell Marketers community.
Dear Bobbye –
Blessings on all the good work you are doing to help people live in their magnificence! Your heart and soul are so generous and far-reaching…
We send our huge support!
Judith & Jim
Judith Sherven, PhD and Jim Sniechowski, PhD
http://TheHeartOfMarketing.com
Judith and Jim,
I’m thrilled that you stopped by. Thanks for your kind words.
Bobbye
wow – brilliant! My mantra and one I share with my clients and the one that we always start with wherever we are:
“I’m doing the best I can, with what I’ve got – and it’s good enough!”
I love the four agreements – the gentle simplicity. I haven’t read his new book – thank you so much for bringing it to my awareness.
This is such a beautiful and heartfelt post and I too love the phrase:
“bringing your shiny highest and best self to the party”
thank you Bobbye – just what I needed to hear.
Namaste xx
Heather, Wanted to touch back with you here. Sorry, in all the excitement of the blogging challenge, I neglected to respond to your post. Glad to bring Don Miguel’s new book to your attention. It’s been fun to be in conversation. Thanks!
~Bobbye
Marcia, Yes, the kicker. We spend so much of our lives on auto-pilot. It’s a real challenge to wake up and even more of a challenge to take action and “remember” to do all the good things we know will make a difference. Thanks Marcia. Glad you’re back from your trip! We missed your voice at #bog30!
Ooo, I like this part: “bringing your shiny highest and best self to the party every moment you can possibly wake up and remember to do it.”
That’s the kicker, isn’t it? Waking up and remembering to do it?
Love this post, Bobbye.
Wow – now we’re talking! Your post showed up at just the right moment for me, Bobbye.
Today is a prime example. I just didn’t have much energy throughout the day – not enough to fill a thimble. Yet I still feel I’ve done my best. My best, today, meant sluggishly plodding along to complete my tasks at the jobs I work outside the home.
So let’s conclude that my best looked quite a bit different than usual, but that’s all right!
You have a way with words. 🙂
Melanie
Melanie, I can’t say what the magic is exactly, or why it unfolds as it does. But somehow the connections and timing of messages and conversations always just seem amazingly on-target. I think it has to do with all of us paying attention more. We’re open enough that the synchronicities and magic can find a place to light. Just saw my nephew in Annie last week. Remember: “Tomorrow. There’s always tomorrow. It’s always a day away.” Take care of yourself! B