No one will dispute that we all strive to be better than we have been before. It encapsulates the complete philosophy of life. And something that I endorse and follow. Hence, my wishes for everyone have been simple- ‘May Your Today Always Be Better Than Your Yesterday’. My cousin Manish Thapliyal found some wisdom by telling me that this is the nice thing he learned from me. On the other hand, my ex-colleague Mukul Bakshi would find it funny and play it back differently whenever I wished him on his birthday.
However, reading on Kindle ‘My Hanuman Chalisa’ by Devdutt Patinayak as the first book of 2024- I realised these simple statements with deeper meanings must be translated and shared with a broader audience.
The wish and the essence of being better than yesterday are hugely personal and growth-oriented. It talks and refers to resilience and the perpetual journey towards self-improvement. It is the best wish one can extend to others, with an honest, sincere, heartfelt hope that today surpasses yesterday in every conceivable way.
Life Is like a long train with vestibule modular interconnected boogies. These interconnected boogies are your timelines, and you move from one to another, not knowing how long your train is and when you will reach the end. Such interconnected life episodes shape our existence- because they shape our experiences and expectations.
However, when the goal is win-win for all. When it is not about outshining others or defeating others but to outgrow one’s former self. Just for you to be better, someone need not t be bad. It reminds you to create a better today, which is based on a past that is a history is about continuous learning, introspection, and the willingness to embrace change as a catalyst for progress. You approach every day as a new sunrise of opportunity. A day where you can become a bit better. A day you can nudge yourself a wee bit closer to your goals. An opportunity to rectify mistakes, learn from experiences, and carve a path towards personal evolution.
In past we have an uncontrolled but established kaleidoscope of moments. Full of accomplishments, failures, and lessons that have defined us. And when you try to be better regularly and keep that as a sole aim, you acknowledge that life is a journey, a work in progress, and each day is a canvas waiting to be painted with the brushstrokes of improvement.
This concept I follow and wish more can see meaning in extends beyond tangible achievements and physical materialistic acquisitions and acknowledgements. It shows the intricate flow of emotional intelligence, resilience, perseverance, self-understanding, clear objectives and mindfulness.
Being better than yesterday is about professional life, personal life, relationships, understanding, craft and culture, experiences and expectations. It is a subtle refinement of one’s character, the cultivation of empathy, and the development of a resilient spirit capable of navigating life’s unpredictable terrain. A little bit better today is better prepared to address future uncertainties.
Like every other journey in life, the journey to being better is also full of setbacks and challenges. However, one can take these hurdles and challenges as stepping stones to move forward. Remembering that the past is dead. Past is certain. Past is closed pages of the book. And the moment that matters is NOW and HERE. The future is unpredictable.
Past should be looked at from the filter of PaRAM, pause, reflect, Absorb the learnings and just move on without the baggage. Dropping baggage every time helps to be light in mind and heart. It gives you scope to accommodate more. It is about taking the lesson and moving on and becoming a wee bit richer in your understanding, a little better prepared and a wee bit better. That’s all that is needed.
Hence, I always wish a person with “May your today be better than your yesterday”. It is an acknowledgement of being human and the expected vagaries of life, and an encouragement, urging and nudging the individual to face challenges- work out solutions, work with optimism and get better than he or she was yesterday.
This thought of continuous improvement also fosters a sense of Gratitude. It acknowledges the progress made. It, in turn, appreciates and celebrates success, change, and betterment- no matter how small. There is a continuum of Gratitude for the lessons learned, the opportunities presented in life, and the opportunities one exploits. It asks you to treat every day as a celebration of progress, a day with a positive ripple in life that includes those around you.
The pursuit of being better than yesterday can transcend boundaries. It can be about the collective improvement ethos, inspiring communities and societies to evolve and progress together. The desire for collective advancement becomes a shared aspiration, creating a ripple effect that elevates the entire human experience.
Pahaadi– the short story contest for writers with roots in Uttarakhand that I curate, is one small example. It even has the absolute understanding and delight of considering every participating writer a winner. When an unpublished or published writer sends the entry, they have taken that extra step, full of expectations, confidence, and faith to move forward and be better than yesterday.
NET NET
The only thing in life that truly matters is the commitment to being better than you were yesterday. And that is my wish for all of you. “May your today be better than your yesterday.”. So, as each day unfolds, let us embrace the opportunity to evolve, learn, and strive to make today better than yesterday. This can be related to everything you do in your personal or professional life. Branding and advertising, start-ups, innovation and marketing try doing the same thing from a different perspective.
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This is one of the critical thoughts and rules I have synthesised from my experience in life. It is discussed in detail in my forthcoming book, ’24 Rules of Life- I Wish I Had Known Earlier’. The book will be released in the 3rd or 4th week of March 2024. If the book interests you and you want to get updates on the book- send me an email at netkot@yahoo.com or WhatsApp at 9819728963.
And if you agree with the thought, there is a good book to read. ‘Get Better at Getting Better‘ by Chandramouli Vebnkatesan.
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