In the last few days, I’ve pondered the following question: Are we doing the best we can? In other words, are we, as people in general, doing our best in all (or at least most) circumstances we encounter in life? I first came across this thought in Brene Brown’s book: Rising Strong. After watching her interview with Oprah Winfrey on Super Soul Sunday, I decided to read the book for myself.
“Are we doing the best we can” from Brene Brown’s book, Rising Strong:
It can be painful for organizational leaders to answer this question because … what often comes up is the realization that
instead of prodding and pushing someone, they need to move on to the difficult task of helping them, reassigning them, or letting them go.
This doesn’t mean that we stop helping people set goals or that we stop expecting people to grow and change. It means that we stop respecting and evaluating people based on what we think they should accomplish, and start respecting them for who they are and holding them accountable for what they’re actually doing. It means that we stop loving people for who they could be and start loving them for who they are. It means that sometimes when we’re beating ourselves up, we need to stop and say to that harassing voice inside, “Man, I’m doing the very best I can right now.
The quote above impacted me very deeply. As a mother, I have moments where I wished one or more of my children would make a different or better (in my eyes) choice. Once I stopped to realize that they were doing the best they can, I began to let go and love them where they are at.
I also found during circumstances where someone had hurt me deeply, it was easier to forgive them when I decided they were/are doing the best they can — even if I did not see it.
Do you have a circumstance in your life that is troubling you? Maybe you just need to remember the people involved are doing the best they can.
Need more help? I can walk you through the Hungry Soul’s Manifestation Formula during a private treatment session. You can find the information on how to schedule your session here.
