Forget about the best version of you

Why the “best version” of you is total BS

6/29/2017

Quite often in personal development, we talk about the “best version” of ourselves.

That’s all we want, right?

To go out into the world as our best selves.

To tap into the "best bits" inside us and bring them forth every day.

It’s such a powerful idea – this “best” version of you.

And yet, it’s complete bullshit!

Why?

Well, I’ve realized that this “best version” idea is a con.

It’s not attainable!

Let me explain why...

The “best” version of me is funny, bubbly, and connects with everyone.

I smile at people walking down the street… I'm laughing a lot… and I have no doubts about my abilities or the path I’m on.

The best version of me is great! :)

I’m on time… I have meals planned for the week… I look and feel good… and I’m working out every couple of days.

However.

This isn’t all of me.

And I’m sure it’s the same for you.

I’m sorry to say that I am known for being late (I’m working on this).

I plan meals sometimes, but I also grab a pizza when I’m tired or don’t have time to cook.

Sometimes I feel happy with what I’m wearing, and other times I look haggard and kind of shit :)

Sometimes I work out regularly.

And other times I let it slide and don’t do anything for weeks.

So I don’t think striving for this “best version” of ourselves is realistic.

How can it be?!

How can we be the best version of ourselves all the time?

Life isn’t like that.

Life isn’t a movie.

Life isn’t about being or finding the best version of yourself.

It’s about accepting yourself as you are, being kind to yourself when you’re not at your best, and cheering yourself on when you do great.

(I actually didn’t mean that to come out as A-B-C… but it works kinda well!)

So this website isn't going to talk about becoming the best version of you.

Instead, it's about the lifestyle you want to lead.

A lifestyle where you’re:

- Kind to yourself
- Doing things you love
- Connecting to who you are and what you want.

Does that sound more doable than being your best self, all day every day?

Let me know what you think in the comments – or you can always message me directly :)

Here’s to imperfection!

Claire

11 Comments

Priscilla link

6/30/2017 01:38:45 am

Agreed! I think the best of myself is not attainable. It would require perfection. But I do think the better of myself is possible, so I strive, and learn, and fail and try again, and celebrate efforts.

Claire @ The Five Percent link

6/30/2017 06:56:03 pm

YES - I love that idea, Priscilla... we're growing and learning every day, and it's a great thing to focus on. And hear hear to striving, learning, failing, and celebrating! :) Thanks for sharing <3

Karina link

6/30/2017 07:25:30 am

Hi Claire. I agree- there's not such thing as a 'better version' of us. Acceptance, kindness to ourselves and listening to our hearts might just be the way forward :) Thanks for sharing!

6/30/2017 06:54:25 pm

Hi Karina... yes - I LOVE that idea of acceptance, kindness to ourselves and listening to our hearts... thanks for commenting! :)

Claire link

6/30/2017 08:38:36 am

Here's to imperfection!

Learning how to #WalkTheTightrope through a lifestyle we love, whilst loving ourselves when we fall off and pick ourselves back up again :+)

6/30/2017 06:50:32 pm

Claire - I quite agree! I truly believe in being open to falling down, but getting back up again afterwards... :) Thanks for your comment and for stopping by!

Nadia link

6/30/2017 08:34:47 pm

I REALLY like this post! I think we are our "best self" when we are just who we are-honest, imperfect, raw, free, growing...forgiving.

One of my favorite quotes, from the movie Up, "We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."

7/1/2017 02:23:34 am

Thanks Nadia - I love your comment! That word "raw" really struck a chord with me. What a great summary of us at our best :) Yes - that's an awesome quote and idea... beautiful! <3 (Reminds me, I should watch that movie again haha...)

Brian Bontrager

10/17/2020 01:58:08 pm

I've always said that the whole concept of the ' best version ' of oneself is utter bullshit. somewhere along the line someone in the media coined the phrase and it's taken on a life of it's own and now every fool with a mouth talks about being the ' best version of myself ' without even thinking about what the concept entails.
Being the best version of oneself is an impossible dream. It's never going to happen. No matter how much we pretend, how hard we try to convince ourselves, when we close the doors and turn out the lights, we'll know that we didn't achieve it.
We failed to become the almost mythical best version of ourselves and that when tomorrow comes we will be that which we have always been; flawed human beings.

Claire @ the five percent link

12/12/2020 05:59:50 am

Hi Brian. I'm sorry for my embarrassingly slow reply! Covid plus no childcare has knocked me for six. It's very much one step forwards two steps backwards these days :)

Anyway, thank you for your comment. You're so right - the phrase "best life" has taken on a life of its own! It's a beast, sucking things into its swirling vortex. It is totally mythical! We're all flawed, and that's the way it's meant to be.

(Would my "best self" have taken this long to reply?! Probably not. But she doesn't exist, haha.)

Couch Ramblings link

6/14/2021 09:42:41 pm

Sometimes, a person is not conscious / lacks the awareness of the things he is doing, because of being so much on autopilot / in his habits / never reflecting upon the reasons for why he behaves the way he does. In these circumstances, I think it helps to reflect if the things are the right ones to do, or if we are not just wasting time. Yes, I agree about accepting yourself on every level, but while spontaneity surely can enhance life by new experiences, for me, it helps to have some sort of plan or structure or a to-do-list of what I want to do - then I can rank the tasks in the Eisenhower matrix kind of way, see if this desire of mine persists throughout the coming days or if it was just me being in a creative brainstorming session. But for sure I think that you shouldn't pressurize yourself with regard to this "best version of yourself" thing - you decide your tempo, you will find out yourself the activities / ways of going about life that suit you best

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Why the “best version” of you is total BS

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