Self-Mastery: Enhancing the Excellence Within You
Along life’s journey, we sometimes get comfortable with mediocrity. This often occurs because we stop setting goals and become complacent with our achievements. Well, there’s always an opportunity to earn a Ph.D. in You. Self-mastery is not aligned with perfection; it’s rooted in having a deeper understanding of yourself, your needs improvement areas, and how you can be a better version of yourself. Your self-mastery toolkit should include mindfulness, self-control, personal excellence, and meaning in life.
Let’s explore self-mastery as a catalyst for change. The road to mastery begins with mindfulness. Each of us naturally possesses mindfulness. It is as easy as starting to be aware of your surroundings and what you are doing and not overreacting to situations when you feel overwhelmed. Mindfulness also promotes self-reflection. You will need to audit yourself. Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Audit the relationships in your life. Are they productive and fulfilling, or do they make you feel drained and unappreciated? Be mindful of those who do not clap for you when you have a win. Unhealthy relationships can invite unwanted stress in your life.
Elevate your presentation. On your self-mastery journey, it is necessary to elevate your vocabulary, knowledge, and quality of interactions with others. Personal presentation requires that you consider how you turn thoughts into words. Words are powerful and can be influenced by self-talk, words from others, videos, and even social media.
The next aspect to consider is self-control. Self-control involves awareness; decisions and actions; discernment and choices; and vision. Observations are one of the most valuable tools for gaining awareness. Do not ignore things that are negatively impactful to the peace and calm in your life. Assess whether your decisions and actions are contributing to your comfort with mediocrity. Tap into your natural ability for discernment. Creating a vision for a better version of yourself will require that you are not resistant to change. Change is inevitable. Adapting positively to change means that you are resilient.
Spirituality often involves a person’s search for meaning and purpose in life. Don’t be an empty vessel. You will always look to others to fill your vessel repeatedly. When you continually fill your vessel with those things that promote excellence, you will only want to receive that which does the same from others. Know your worth and deny others the opportunity to dim your light. With these things in mind, you are on your way to establishing a self-mastery toolkit that is specially designed for you.
Rhonda Harris Thompson, PhD
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Rhonda H. Thompson is a scholar, veteran, wife, and mother. As a college professor and a graduate of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), she appreciates the value of increasing knowledge and promoting excellence. She assists individuals with life skills training focusing on self-mastery, life transitions, and coping strategies.