The Highest and Best Use of You

Think you don’t under-utilize the best of you?  Think Again!

Not just “fluff”, but grounded in research.  Few (I don’t know any) people can really see themselves objectively.  We carry a natural bias through our own values, beliefs, priorities, interests and preferences.

We tend to appreciate others for their results and primarily appreciate ourselves on our efforts.  It is a major gap.

For example, people have told me that they don’t have any clue or vested interest in what I go through to write something like this, they only really care about whether it is useful for them and doesn’t waste their time or energy.

Another important observation is that we tend to undervalue what is “easy” or feels “effortless” to ourselves and we will over-value what is difficult.  This causes us to miss the significance of our real gifts and skills.

Have you ever had people lavish you with thanks for doing something that was “no big deal” to you?   If you have, then you know the experience of an under-utilized gift.  This gift produces results that make you really valuable to other people and organizations.  It is what they want to count on you for and represents ways that you make a real difference just being and acting as yourself.

So here is what to do:  Make a list of the 2-3 things that people often compliment you on or appreciate about you or what you do (and it is not impressive to you or you think of it as easy or no big deal).  This is especially useful to do for you best friend because we often think that what we know about them, they already know about themselves.

After that, take a look into the world where you primarily work or live and identify areas where problems exist or occur and you can make a difference.  Consider the value that this result has for others and value yourself accordingly.

As a result, you will experience less struggle in your work and you will thoroughly exploit the “Highest and Best” use of you.

This is as good as it gets.  Enjoy!