reddeaded1 t1_iy833nn wrote on November 29, 2022 at 1:27 PM

Reply to comment by k-tax in [image]Do your best by thirtyVerb

"Do your best" doesn't mean you need to reach the absolute peak of your performance or don't bother doing it at all. Circumstances will dictate what "your best" looks like. If fact, this is the most common use of the phrase. When you know you're capable of better, but circumstances dictate you can't at the moment, you "do your best". For example:

> Can't go to the gym for 2 hours? Go for 45 minutes.

In my opinion, that IS doing your best. If you actually can't put in your full workout, but still manage to get one in, you did your best. You aren't failing to do your best because circumstances dictate you can't hit peak performance. If you had no excuse and just decided to half ass your workout anyway, that would be failing to do your best. That's what should be avoided.

k-tax t1_iy83wmp wrote on November 29, 2022 at 1:35 PM

But in this case your "best" is whatever you decide it is. I am saying, not everything needs "your best". And if you are not doing "your best", it's still bringing value. You have time and everything for a full workout, but don't feel like it? You don't need to give it your best. Don't go into: it's either your best or nothing. The space in-between is fine as well. And motivational posts like the above one make it clear: give it your best. Always do your best. Which can be daunting and is unadvised.

Have priorities. Think about thinking and doing. Not everything deserves your best.

reddeaded1 t1_iy877k3 wrote on November 29, 2022 at 2:04 PM

> And if you are not doing "your best", it's still bringing value.

I don't think most people would disagree with this, at least I don't. But if you don't have an excuse then you're failing to meet your potential, which you shouldn't be happy with (or at least as happy as if you had). "Doing your best" or "achieving your potential" is a virtue. It's like when people tell you to practice kindness, or generosity, or forgiveness, or whatever. They are principals that we've decided are worth striving to meet (there is room for disagreement on that but I think it's outside the scope of this conversation).

This isn't to say you have to always live up to these principals, we are human and can't be expected to behave perfectly. I don't always react kindly when someone cuts me off in traffic, and I've been known to hold a grudge on occasion, but I still believe kindness and forgiveness are virtues worth striving for. You don't have to practice a virtue 100% of the time to still believe it is worthwhile, we don't need to throw it away completely because it's impossible to always live up to, we simply must do our best.