“Be the Person You Want” - A simple phrase to fight mediocrity 😪
Soul Letter #41
Hello👋 folks, Shubham here.
I am back with another edition of Soul Letter🗞
The self-help industry is estimated to be $13.2 billion by 2022 which sounds absolutely ludicrous. It begs a question whether these self-help coaches (by the way is there an examination to qualify as one? I am curious) genuinely want to help people or is it just another means to make money? There are a plethora of self-improvement tips available in the market, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
I don’t have any magic spells however I do have a trick that has improved my life significantly in the last few years.
One day while scrolling through the internet I found an intriguing quote “Be the person you needed when you were younger.” and it etched on my soul the moment I read it. It was thought-provoking.
I imagined if I had a mentor during my growing years I would have devoted a lot less time to the futile stuff (people say I am delusional).
Perhaps that's life, with time you realize what matters and what does not.
I knew with a little alteration the same thought can be applied to different aspects of my life. Therefore I took the liberty to experiment with it.
I am happy to share my findings with you guys (if you accept me as your Sensei).
So let's begin.
Be the Person You Want to Work For
We spend around one-third of our day at work which estimates to around 8 hours. If you are miserable for those 8 hours then you will be discontent for a considerable time of your life (do the math).
On the contrary, if you love your work you will grow exponentially.
“I truly believe that each of us must find meaning in our work. The best work happens when you know that it’s not just work, but something that will improve other people’s lives.” — Satya Nadella
What type of person do you want to work for?
I want to work for a company that has a good corporate culture, promotes work-life balance, looks after employee well-being, provides job security.
I fancy a manager who is open to my opinions, helps me grow, has got my back when I screw up (which I will), respects my personal time, and so on.
Once you start thinking like this you’ll automatically attract a job offer which suits your requirements. You’ll start developing the leadership qualities you are looking for.
Be the Person You Want to Work With
Continuing with work, your team or colleagues play an important role in day-to-day life. They are instrumental in your career growth and success.
What type of colleague do you want to work with?
I want to work with someone who has good working ethics, stands by their commitments, interested in learning something new, trustworthy (will not throw me under the bus when things go wrong), takes it easy from time to time (not a typical workaholic).
With a crystal clear image of your colleagues, you start becoming like one of them. You inculcate the traits you are looking forward to and end up with like-minded teammates.
Be the Person You Want to Be Friends With
Friends are the essence of life (if you got the right ones).
A good friend will always support you while a bad one might cajole you into wrong things. They can either be a boon or a curse.
What type of person do you want to be friends with?
I want to befriend someone who is humble, kind, honest, inquisitive, all in all, a good human being. Someone who gives me sane life advice, warns me if I do something wrong, values my time, periodically checks on me, and isn’t a bad influence (alcohol, smoking, drugs. A big no).
Once again you know the type of person you want to be friends with, you start developing the same attributes and allure desired people.
Be the Person You Want to Date
We have unrealistic expectations from the person we date, they should be perfect. We keep a big checklist which they ought to clear to be declared the one.
Hang on a moment, check how many traits you have from that list(surprise, surprise!). Let's amend it to be more pragmatic.
What type of person do you want to date?
I want to date a person who is like my friend so all my friend's qualities are a must. Additionally, they should be serious about their career, must take care of their health, respect personal privacy, put genuine effort into relationships, enjoy life, have a sense of humor (to laugh at my lame jokes), and so on.
Subconsciously with time, you start getting molded into the person want to date (you can thank me later).
Be the Person You Want
Statutory warning, this section might be grim (hope we stay friends after this).
I’ll tell you a secret, you’ll die tomorrow and the world will keep moving. Nobody cares about you, your regrets, or the opportunities you missed.
On your death bed, you’ll be chiding yourself for not applying for your dream job, learning to play the guitar, going on the Europe tour, asking out that stranger, not being adventurous enough.
We live a mediocre life abiding by the silly constructs of society hiding our true identity because of the fear of being judged.
“Someone once told me the definition of Hell: The last day you have on earth, the person you became will meet the person you could have become.” — Anonymous
Ergo, if you die tomorrow will you be content with the life you lived?
If the answer is no, then quit stalling on your goals (now don’t tell you don’t have any).
What type of person do you want to be?
I’ll leave this for you to answer.
Final Thoughts
While writing this article I realized my theory is based a lot on the law of attraction. Like attracts like.
I am a huge believer that the universe responds to our frequency. When you put in the effort, things start happening magically (I tried my best to write a genuine article, now the cosmos will take care of the rest).
The whole concept is a little counterintuitive, you end up becoming the person you are seeking.
Experiment with the below ideas:
Be the Person You Want To Work For
Be the Person You Want To Work With
Be the Person You Want To Be Friends With
Be the Person You Want To Date
Be the Person You Want
Moreover, don’t stop there. Let the creative juices of your mind run free. Use the core principle and apply it to any part of your life.
Be the Person You Want To Parent
Be the Person You Want on Your Football Team
Be the Person You Want To Mentor
Be the Person You Want As Neighbor
Be the Person You Want To Marry
Hope you enjoyed this edition.
Signing off for today :) Until next time, Houdoe! 🙋♂️
Previous Soul Letters 🗞
Was an awesome read, Shubham. Keep these coming :)
i loved reading it!!!