the 1% better year
how small changes quietly shape a meaningful life
This past year, as most years, had its ups and downs, its wins and its losses, its right and seemingly “wrong” decisions. But, at the end of the day, they all led me to where my life currently is, and that is not too bad. Not too bad at all.
With this upcoming year, I am making it a goal to be the best version of me. In order to do this, I want to be the strongest, kindest, most generous, wisest version of myself, and so on… and here’s how I am aiming to become that person.
Before I begin, I must say: yes, this may all sound like a lot, perhaps even “too much” to some people. However, to me, there is no such thing as setting yourself to a certain standard when even the smallest changes can have a big impact.
To that, I believe that any person can truly better themself by 1% each day. You might then think to yourself, “Well, if I better myself 1% more each day, then I shall be 100% perfect in 100 days, no?” To which I would respond, “Quite the contrary.”
When you truly begin to better yourself daily and set yourself to that standard of 1% better each day, you seemingly get further from that 100%. Now, you may be thinking, “Then what is the point if I can’t get to that 100%?” But just you wait…
In all honesty, there is no perfect 100% version of yourself. The idea of a perfect person is impossible; we know this. But some people seem to live the dream life you envision, or the dream life you’ve created in your own head. And because of that, there is some version of you, some dream version, that you want to become.
That is the best version of you. The version you think about, no matter how big or small, the changes in life may be. Because, believe it or not, once you reach a certain age, graduate from a certain degree, or hit a milestone, there will always be more to learn, more people to meet, more places to see, and more things to do.
That is life as we know it. And in order to keep living it fully, we need to stay present for ourselves. We need to keep showing up.
So, start by showing up to that 1% each day. Start today. Because it truly is now or never. And I promise you, once you hit day 10, or even day 50, you will see that the 100% version of yourself has evolved to an even higher standard, exactly as it should.
Because no matter what you may believe now or before you have read this, you, my darling, deserve to set yourself to that higher standard. You deserve to see all that is out there, all that your heart yearns for, all the feelings you want to feel, and the things you want to do and accomplish. There will always be that first version of the 100%, then the next, and the next. And the more you do, the bigger your view of your future self becomes, because you can finally believe and see that when you set your mind to something, it truly, truly will happen.
So, for me, in the year 2026, I know that I will be the best version of myself. Because as much as I love my current self and could not be more grateful for the life I have lived, I know in my bones and in my soul that there are at least 100 more 100% versions of me out there, and that is what keeps me going.
Life is not waiting for you. It is happening now, and it will continue as long as we are here. So be in the now, live in the now, and make life that much more lovely each and every day, because you owe this version of you to you.
xoxo,
Avalon