{"id":195,"date":"2013-12-08T22:55:22","date_gmt":"2013-12-08T22:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/heartofthesoul\/?p=195"},"modified":"2013-12-08T22:55:22","modified_gmt":"2013-12-08T22:55:22","slug":"joy-in-not-being-the-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/heartofthesoul\/2013\/12\/joy-in-not-being-the-best.html","title":{"rendered":"Joy in Not Being the Best"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"sudoku\"<\/a>I love solving Sudoku<\/a> puzzles. It\u2019s one of my favorite ways to unwind on my days off. There\u2019s something really relaxing about knowing that there is a solution, and that hopefully I\u2019ll be able to solve it.<\/p>\n

However, I\u2019m not the greatest Sudoku puzzle solver that ever lived. Not even close. While I am pretty good, I\u2019m not the best. While I can almost always solve the difficult-level puzzles, I frequently am unable to figure out the extra challenging puzzles \u2013 the top tier puzzles.<\/p>\n

And you know what? I\u2019m okay with that.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a pretty driven person. I like to push myself and be the best that I can be at whatever I am doing. And I have accomplished a lot because of this drive. But sometimes, it\u2019s really nice to release the expectations that I have for myself and embrace the fact that I\u2019m not the best at something.<\/p>\n

I know that I\u2019m never going to be the best Sudoku puzzle solver. I know that no matter how hard I try or how many tricks I learn or how many hours I put into solving these fun puzzles, there will always be someone else who is better than I am. And I’m okay with that. Realizing this helps me enjoy the puzzles in a relaxing way. It gives me permission to ease into them rather than push through them. It keeps them fun rather than turning them into something to accomplish.<\/p>\n

None of us are going to be the best at everything. It\u2019s just not possible. There will be certain things that just don\u2019t flow as easily for us. But that definitely doesn\u2019t mean that we shouldn\u2019t do them. Just the opposite, really. These activities can still be enjoyed and cherished in a relaxing and fun way \u2013 without pressure or expectation.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s my hope that we can all find something in our life that we know without a doubt that we\u2019ll never be the best at.<\/strong> And once we find it, to do it anyway with joy in our hearts.<\/strong>\u00a0That\u2019s what Sudoku is for me. It may be something completely different for you. Maybe you love playing music, but you don\u2019t want to put into the time it would take to be a concert musician. Or maybe you love to play tennis, and you just aren\u2019t that great at it. But it brings you joy when you hit the court. Or maybe you like to paint, but you know that you will never be an accomplished artist. And yet you continue painting because it makes you happy to do so.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re driven and used to accomplishing, finding activities that you aren\u2019t the best at can be so liberating. They can free you to simply enjoy them and relax into them. You can give yourself permission to have fun with them \u2013 knowing that you\u2019re simply doing them for the joy they bring to you.<\/p>\n

Striving to be the best can be wonderful \u2013 doing so allows you to accomplish tons and push yourself beyond what you thought you were capable of. But constant striving can also be exhausting. And when you try to be the best in every single area of your life, you\u2019ll most likely end up pretty resentful and always feel like you\u2019re falling short. That\u2019s when embracing your \u201cnever going to be the best\u201d hobbies and interests becomes extra important. You\u2019re giving yourself permission to take a rest from achieving and competing and striving and pressuring. You\u2019re simply being. Simply enjoying. Simply having fun.<\/strong> And that feels wonderful, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

Hugs,<\/p>\n

Jodi<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"about
\n<\/a>Jodi Chapman is a bestselling author, an award-winning blogger, and a soulful community builder.\u00a0She lives her life with love and faith in the driver\u2019s seat, and she hopes to leave a trail of inspiration wherever she goes. She believes that we each have the ability to hear our soul\u2019s whisper and create our best lives. She would love to connect with you!<\/p>\n

Website<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2665 \u00a0\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2665 \u00a0\u00a0Angel Fund<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u2665 \u00a0\u00a0Free Ebook<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I love solving Sudoku puzzles. It\u2019s one of my favorite ways to unwind on my days off. There\u2019s something really relaxing about knowing that there is a solution, and that hopefully I\u2019ll be able to solve it. However, I\u2019m not the greatest Sudoku puzzle solver that ever lived. Not even close. 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