No matter what I write, no matter how positive it is, no matter how inspiring the message may be, there will always be those who perceive things negatively.

It’s like that famous quote from Anaïs Nin:

We perceive things based on our circumstances, experiences, influences around us, and the things we have learned. No matter how carefully my words are crafted, someone will decide to perceive those words negatively. They will find a way to troll me and express their discontent, anger, and disagreement with me. And that is okay.

I knew that this was going to happen when I decided to share my voice in a public way. It is part of the beauty of being vulnerable online. There’s always going to be both positive and negative comments. I like to listen to different opinions. It's actually fun and fascinating for me. I learn every time it happens and it provides me with material to write.

When the Yogis say, do the best you can, or do things better than they were done before, they aren’t suggesting that you should compare yourself to other people, always trying to beat them. It's not about competing with others. You can’t control what everyone else is doing. You can only control what you do. And besides that, it’s not healthy to measure yourself up against others. Everyone is working their way up, advancing, evolving, learning, and growing at their own pace.

The only person you should compare to is your past self. Try to always do better than you did yesterday. And some days, you know what? Your best won’t be as good as before, and that’s okay too. Some days you won’t ‘feel it.’ And your best on that day may not look like the best you've ever done. But you must at least try. Trying is not a bad thing. It means you are making an effort. It means you are pouring your heart into it.

Or what’s the alternative? Going about life not trying? Not doing the best you can? Taking action half-heartedly? Not wanting to improve every day?

Now, I cannot control how others perceive my messages. All I can do is my best in researching, writing, and editing. Everything else is beyond my control. Getting caught up in discussions is futile. Messages resonate with some, and with others, they don’t, and no amount of argument will change their minds. Isn’t it?

All I can do is share things in the way I have learned them, in the hopes that they'll serve others.

So, do what you can with what you have at that specific moment. That's what the Yogis meant when they said, Do your best no matter what. Without competing, without comparing, without judging others. And at the same time, you have to accept yourself exactly as you are. Accept that you are a work in progress, and you’ll always be.

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