I’ve heard this imperative many times. Do your best. What does that mean? In The Four Agreements, a book I read recently, Don Miguel Ruiz says, your best is a subjective standard. Your best is different at different times and you need to know what that best is right now you don’t torture yourself past your capacity but also so that you don’t limit your abilities with mediocre thoughts. A few years ago, when I was at the fitness level that I could run a half marathon, doing my best meant going for 7 and 8 and 9 mile runs a couple times a week. These days, my best means I focus on just running 2 miles a few times a week with my long run capping off at 3 mile. If I tried to run a half marathon right now, I would have to walk (or limp, maybe) the last two thirds of the race. I just don’t have it in me today. And while I am working towards getting back there, it’s just outside my range right now. Today is the Boston Marathon, elite runners from all the world gather to compete and all I can do is watch from my couch and say, oh that’s nice. It would be nice to qualify for Boston someday but right now, I’m not at the level that that competition requires. My best can’t get me to Boston today. I hope to get there. I am working at getting back to that level. But that’s not where I am right now. Doing my best requires me being honest with where I am right now and doing what’s necessary to improve.

Years ago when I didn’t read as much and didn’t know some of the things I do now, I could only go on the information I had. Now that I more access to information, my best requires so much more.

Some abilities have improved with time while some have waned. It is important to know where you are so that even as you push yourself to achieve, you’re also being aware of your limitations. Be ambitious, not silly.

I am striving to do my best where I am. I, alone, know what my best is right now.

Last week, my goals were:

• read 2 books for Tome Topple Readathon (the challenge is to read books with 500+ pages) – I finished one and am midway through the second
• blog everyday – 6 out of 7 Click to read Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri posts
• post 5 YouTube videos – I only posted 2 
• write creatively everyday – some days were a sentence long but I did it daily 
• gym 5 times – I only went twice
• spend 30 minutes each day learning/practicing a skill – more like 20 minutes
• save – I did. A little less than prior weeks but I am building a habit here

One of the videos I posted last week was a January vlog where I attempt to document some of the highlights of the month. It is a project I plan to do all year but so far, I’ve only posted the first month which you can watch here:

This week, my goals are:

• read 2 more tomes for the readathon
• blog everyday
• post 5 YouTube videos
• make 20 new online friends
• write creatively everyday
• finish editing a novella I’ve been working on for ages
• gym/run 5 times
• improve my daily run to 2.5 miles
• spend 30 minutes each day learning/practicing a skill
• save

Last week, I don’t think I did my best. There were some unexpected challenges but I could have done better with meeting some of my goals. But you know, i got a little busy, a little distracted, a little lazy. Whatever the reason, it’s in the past. This week, I intend to do my best at whatever I am working on. Here’s hoping I can maintain my focus and accomplish it.

How were your goals last week? What are your goals this week? Are you doing your best right now?

If you’d like to check out The Four Agreements

Linkup: B Loved Boston,More Pieces of Me,  Weekly Wraps

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