How do you become your best self?  Where are you in your heroic journey?

Let me ask: if you consider your work, life, self — your overall life path, where did you demonstrate wisdom? What about missteps?

Over the past few years, we’ve seen incredible acts of vulnerability and genuine concern (aka, authenticity). While we may never become heroes and sacrifice like so many others did during the pandemic, we can become more genuine and capable of heroic deeds. We can embark on our own heroic journey to our best self.

The Journey to Self

I like the approach outlined in The Blueprint: 6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights (Wiley, 2020)1. Doug Conant, the author, turned around the once struggling Campbell Soup Company and went on to successfully lead Nabisco Foods. A remarkable story. Even more remarkable is that he overcame being fired without warning and considers this to be “the best thing that ever happened to him.” Why? This turn of fate allowed him the time for self-reflection and discovery.

I had a similar experience. I was not “fired” per se, but without warning, I was told that I did not fit the organization and that I was “terminated”. During the year of working in this environment, there were many signs that this organization was not a good fit for me and my values. I endured personal attacks on my work and my character. I was “written up” for leaving a stapler on my desk overnight and criticized for being “too diplomatic”. The year took a toll on my self-regard and self-actualization2.

As I was escorted from the boardroom after being terminated, I thanked my director – genuinely. The toxic weight was lifted. I was released to reflect on who I wanted to be and who I wanted to serve in my best work. To this day, three decades later, like Doug Conant, I consider this termination to be the best thing that ever happened to me in my career and my self-development. This experience launched me into becoming my best self and valuing who I am. I became by my own hero.

The journey to becoming your best self is an intentional process. Discovering who you are and where you are at any point in life requires an honest assessment. Self-actualization2 is the ability to realize your potential capabilities and capacity.

To act as your own hero is to be intentional; to create the life that is the most accurate expression of who, what, and where you want to be. While this might sound like a tall order, your next act is just one small step away. What is that very next step for you?

Write Your Heroic Journey

In a previous blog, we present a 3-step process to writing your life story, Be Your Own Hero – Write Your Heroic Journey3. Writing your life story allows you to reflect, envision, plan, and take that next step in your heroic journey. When you take an accurate and honest assessment of yourself and connect to what and where you want to go, you act like a hero—for yourself, and others.

Becoming your own hero allows you to:

  1. Envision who you want to be, your best self.
  2. Reflect on your strengths, and how you perceive yourself: intellectually, cognitively, emotionally, physically, socially, sexually, and spiritually.
  3. Transform your life.

Working with a trusted mentor or coach is helpful, if not critical, in this process. In addition, The Blueprint: 6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights (Wiley, 2020)1 is a great tool to capture your thoughts, help you develop a plan, and act.

This personal work will help you to move on to the next three steps:

  1. Plan. Design a life: a career, a way of being, that aligns with your true self. Identify the resources and goals you need to move forward.
  2. Practise. This is where you can develop new habits. Keep them simple. Recognize each time you use your strengths and express your values. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones, James Clear4
  3. Progress. Remember that heroes are not perfect. However, they do the work to improve and reinforce positive habits. Your heroic journey is a process that takes persistence and tenacity.

As you continue, consider the following best practices:

  • Pay attention to who you are right now and recognize when you are your truest, best self.
  • Act. If needed, change your mindset, beliefs, behaviour, and habits that require undoing and redoing.
  • Share your story. Your heroic journey is meant to be shared, with authenticity, gratitude, and humility.

“You can either walk inside your story and own it, or you can stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.” – Brene Brown5 

Where are you in your heroic journey? What is your next act as a hero? Please do share your story here at Amintro. Your story will add to the growing optimistic approach to disruption, transition, and being awesome at any age.

Resources:

  1. The Blueprint: 6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights (Wiley, 2020), Doug Conant with Amy Federman
  2. The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success, Steven J. Stein, PH.D. and Howard E. Book, M.D.
  3. Be Your Own Hero – Write Your Heroic Journey, Patricia A. Muir, AMINTRO
  4. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones, James Clear
  5. Brene Brown. Author of Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.

Written by Patricia A. Muir, Maestro Quality Inc., THRIVE

Patricia’s signature program “THRIVE After 60” validates women’s choices and amplifies their voices as they remain professionally active after 60 and beyond. Visit her website at https://www.patriciamuir.com/