Just Do You?

Just Do You? – by Arnie Wohlgemut

Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice and is never the result of selfishness.

Napoleon Hill

Have you heard the saying – “Just Do You”?

What does that really mean? Do you even know “YOU”?

Have you done the hard work of really knowing why you’re here, how that influences how you will be while you’re here, and what you will do to fulfill your purpose?

I’m conflicted when I hear this term. Part of my understanding of that term supports my beliefs that you should know your purpose for being here – on this earth – doing you as you were meant to be. On the other hand, I believe it supports being selfish or self-centred.

Self-centredness.

Putting yourself first is not selfish. Thinking about yourself constantly is selfish. Please respect the difference.

Anonymous

One thought that comes to mind is that this ‘just do you’ mantra can be incredibly selfish. The focus is on you, what makes you happy, what makes you look good.

It’s hard in life to avoid all conflicts, and it take courage and love to engage with someone who claims: “I didn’t change, I just found myself.”

If you really believe that you are here on earth to be selfish and only love yourself, great, however that is not everyone. I do not suggest that you hate yourself but have a balanced approach to loving yourself and loving others.

Avoid conflict.

Selfish people also tend to have victim mindsets… Their actions plant seeds of loneliness; then they cry upon the blooming.

Steve Maraboli

I have noticed that when I meet someone living this mantra, I initially smile and show no reaction. It is my way of avoiding conflict.

I am confident that there are those who adopt this mindset using it to avoid conflicts as well.

To avoid all conflicts doesn’t foster deep healthy relationships with others in the workplace. It doesn’t foster a healthy relationship with our community or our planet. I also believe that this does not bring you lasting joy and happiness.

Self absorbed people only think about what makes them feel good in the moment – they don’t have any respect or regard for anyone else. Then they wonder why their relationships fail.

Copycat behaviour.

Eventually losing oneself in the process of adaptation is equivalent to losing one’s self identity.

Ashwin Sankar

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a copycat as one who imitates or adopts the behaviour or practices of another.

You are unique, there is only one person like you and that is you. So why do we copy others or adapt so intentionally that we become something other than who we were meant to be?

I encourage you to seek out resources and coaching that can help you learn about your personal destiny, character and calling (or as we call it; your “WHY-BE-DO®”).

I would be happy to help you discover and write your own personal destiny, character and calling statements.