“Don’t try to be better than somebody else, but never cease trying to be the best you can be. You have control over that. The other you don’t.” – John Wooden
The quote above describes a mindset that we all should try to instill in ourselves. It is saying that we only have control over our own actions, and that we can only control how much effort we put into something. The result that comes from that effort usually reflects how hard you’ve worked, but not always.
Some people will be naturally good at things that you are not. But that doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t be comparing yourself to them. You should always look within. Did you try your best today?
This also works with how you project your expectations on others…one example is with parents and their children. Many parents are so focused on their children’s G.P.A. (a result) instead of their kid’s effort to honestly obtain good grades. When all parents care about is if little Johnny and Susie get an “A”, then that’s what Johnny and Susie will prioritize. The children won’t care how they get that grade, as long as they get it. This is why cheating is so prevalent in school. Instead of just trying your best and being happy with the result (in which you actually learn something), kids are willing to cheat their way to a potentially better (and easier) result even though they’re not actually learning anything.
With that in mind, make sure you are emphasizing what actions are actually important in life. Focus on the effort you give, and not the result that comes from it.