Your Best Is Good Enough

It's the time of year when report cards have gone home. Judgement is being shelled out by teachers, fellow students, schools, and parents. Kids from young to old alike are being told their worth and value based on these grades. Kids feel the weight of these report cards, and the aftermath of either praises or consequences can be tormenting.  We all feel this pressure while in school. If you didn't, you are truly the anomaly.

Heck, the pressure intensifies even more so when we become adults and get jobs, or become parents. We are judged based on performances of all kinds. Are you getting straight "A's"? Are your kids well behaved at all times? (The answer to that one is always no by the way). Are your customers always happy and writing perfect reviews raving over your customer service?  If you're not performing well enough in the eyes of the person above you in authority, the pressure and anxiety of what will come next can be intense. That anxiety can kill someone on the inside.

Am I going to be grounded because I didn't live up to my parents standards?

Am I going to be fired because I let my boss down?

Am I going to be kicked off the team because I let the ball drop and in doing so failed my team?  

Don't get me wrong, it is certainly one thing if someone decides to not push themselves. I am not validating the people who have a lack of work ethic. If they decide not to study, or work their very best, there should be consequences. But it is a whole different story if they are truly working to the best of their ability. They are giving it all they got when they study for tests. They are writing papers when given an assignment instead of procrastinating. They are giving it all while practicing for the state finals.  We are humans. We are imperfect.  

I currently have two children in school. Second grade and kindergarten to be exact. I can already see their competitive sides coming out. (They get that from me by the way, but that's a story for another day.) I see it when I hear one of them boasting to the other that they got a perfect grade on a math test......or something of the sort. That perfect grade for the one makes the other feel inadequate. The shame they feel is hard to watch. It breaks my heart as a mom. It breaks my heart as someone who too has felt inadequate in comparison to others.  

I remember back to my childhood. I remember not feeling good enough. I'm sure you know the feeling too. That "B" on your English paper wasn't great because it wasn't an "A". A teacher, parent, sibling, or friend reminds you from even the most minuscule comment that you are not good enough.  We were not all made to have the same talents. We were all made with various gifts. Embrace it. Our differences and expertise in things is the reason the world runs so well.  So next time you find yourself getting ready to come down on someone for their inability to be perfect, think twice. Remind your employee, remind your students, remind your friends, remind your children that their BEST is good enough. Remind them that a simple grade in school doesn't define them. And parents, don't forget that you can even put that "B-" paper up on the fridge to remind your child that you're proud of their efforts.  

As we begin a new year, begin a new rhythm. If you see someone around you working hard, giving it all they got, encourage them! Be generous in your words. Be proud for their effort. Most importantly, be kind! Don't underestimate the power of words.  For anyone reading this today......  Your employee's best is good enough!  Your student's best is good enough!  Your child's best is good enough!  YOUR best is good enough!  

Let us give each other grace. Let us encourage one another to always try our best, and to love ourselves in the process.