“The first principle is simply this: you are here to become the-best-possible-version-of-yourself. It would seem clear that you are not here to become the second-rate-version-of-yourself. Nor are you here to be another version of your parents, teachers, friends, or siblings.
At some very basic foundational level you are
here to be yourself. Being yourself is much more difficult than most would suppose, however, because it requires the real work of self-discovery. Nonetheless, in this you share a common bond with all men, women, and children, for we are all here to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. The best way to live, therefore, is in such ways that help you become the-best-version-of-yourself. ...
Everything makes sense in relation to the first principle. Life is
about saying yes to the things that help you become the-best-version-of-yourself and no to the things that don’t. It is not more complicated than that. Of course, we manage to complicate it quite a deal more.
On a different plane of thinking the concept becomes a thing of beauty, for we finally realize that anyone or anything that does not help us to become a better-version-of-ourselves is just too small for us. What liberation and joy we experience when we
make this truth our own for the very first time.” – Matthew Kelly from
Off Balance
One of the primary, brilliant themes of Matthew’s work is the fact that our ultimate purpose is to become
the-best-possible-version-of-ourselves.
It’s a UNIVERSAL purpose we all share.
We all have the exact same ultimate purpose: To actualize our potential (aka become the-best-version-of-ourselves) while giving our gifts to our families and to the world. One purpose.
Then, of course, how we each give our gifts to the world is unique to us and will evolve throughout our lives. Many
missions.
What I love about Matthew’s frame is that, once we REALLY own that, it makes life rather straight-forward. Each moment gives us an opportunity to say yes to the opportunities/people/behaviors/thoughts/etc. that help us become the best-version-of-ourselves.
Moment to moment to moment, we’re constantly making choices. Let’s choose wisely!
