Cultivating an Attitude of “As Best I Am Able”

You can enhance the degree of well-being you experience in your life by committing to and cultivating an attitude that focuses on your effort rather than on the results of that effort. We call this “as best I am able” practice. The goal of this practice is to align your values with your words or actions as you carry out the tasks of your day.

1. Ask yourself if you truly want to make this practice a core attitude in your daily life, and if so, what it means to you.

2. Engage in this practice each morning by stating to yourself, “I intend to treat each part of this day as an offering by living it as best I am able.”

3. Throughout the day practice being mindful of your attitude as you do your various activities.

4. Remind yourself throughout the day that you intend for all your words and actions to arise from an attitude of “as best I am able.”

5. Notice when your attitude is one of judging yourself for not doing your best, and cons]ciously remind yourself, “Even in these circumstances, I wish to do the best I’m able.”

6. Be mindful of those times when you actually speak or act from this attitude, and acknowledge to yourself that you have lived out your commitment.

7. When others demand that you meet their expectations, respond by saying that you are doing the bst you are able to do. Beware of making a false claim, and don’t fall into the trap of using hindsight to redefine your best effort.