“Do the best you can until you know better.  Then when you know better, do better.”

~Maya Angelou

Remember how, as a teenager, we thought everyone else had it all figured out except us?  Of course, most didn’t any more than we did.  As we live, we strive and from that we grow.  No one is perfect.  Everyone has situations where they feel they could have done better.

Profoundly wise people understand this.  They weren’t born enlightened, they are simply life-long learners.  Which means they strive to learn something every day.  Alternatively, this also means they still don’t have it all figured out.  The way they view it, every situation provides an opportunity for self-reflection and evaluation for the purpose of learning and bettering oneself — as a valuable and powerful tool for growth.  It also makes them much more accepting about not handling everything 100% perfect.  Once we understand this, we can use it as a tool just as the sages do. 

Using self-reflection in the form of self-flagellation, serves no purpose.  It only distracts us from using the experience in a positive way. 

Dr. Joe Dispenza recommends this protocol for self-reflection.  The next time you have a situation that was challenging, ask – ‘how can I evolve myself?’, then close your eyes and visualize how it will work next time.  For those around you (especially children), there is an incredible benefit when they see this approach.  It is substantially more comfortable to witness than self-doubt and self-criticism.

Art is the application of a special skill that has been practiced and honed.  We are all in this together, learning and developing our skill at the art we call Life.  Patience with ourselves and others will enhance our experience giving us a far more satisfactory result.

Let’s be relentless in our pursuit to know better together.