The Timeless Mantra That Changed Everything For Me

For the past 11 years, there has been a positive gravitational force.

Its name? Maybe "intentional, positive, personal change".

I've been diagnosed with a chronic illness I'll survive until I don't.

Worse, I've lost people I care about and left scars on my heart.

Worse, I've helplessly watched someone forget who I was and the moments we'd made together.

But in the face of bad and worse and worse still, things have gotten good and better and better still.

Because 11 years ago today I adopted this mantra: "Every time you see me, you're going to see a better version of me".

It has the same invigorating effect today it did 4015 days ago. It gets me fired up.

It doesn't say "Every day, things will get better around me". It says "Every time you see me, you're going to see a better version of me".

Honoring that commitment has bent the arc of my life towards transformation. Towards curiosity, generosity, influence, confidence, and an earned self-esteem that can't be stolen.

It holds me accountable to real growth, and not just a good story. It has to be recognizable. It has to be consistent. And it has to be authentic: a better version of me, not someone else.

And that's created a healthy commitment to intentional, positive, personal change that has made things good, better, and better still. That's brought purpose for tomorrow when today serves up its worst.