## Defining Excellence and Performance-Based Esteem I define excellence as performing to the best of one's abilities. This is not about achieving a specific outcome, but rather about the dedication and effort put forth in the pursuit of a goal. It's about striving to reach your full potential, regardless of external factors or comparisons to others. ### The Link Between Performance and Self-Worth If you are to perform an activity enough, you will eventually find it becomes a part of your self-esteem. This is called performance-based esteem, which is essentially "I am valuable because I am good at something." This connection can be a powerful motivator, driving individuals to hone their skills and achieve impressive results. However, it also presents a significant vulnerability. ### The Perils of Comparison It is natural to want to learn and get better at an activity once you do it enough. If you are to evaluate your performance, how are you to measure it, and how good is good enough? Depending on your personality, you may be the type of person that feels okay being better than most people who you witness doing the same activity. Furthermore, some people will always strive to be better than anyone they encounter. Still further, you may be the kind of person who seeks out betters to challenge yourself still further. Nearly all of these people will eventually run into someone who is better than them, whether or not they sought them out. Anyone who has fallen into the trap of performance-based esteem will have their self-worth tarnished when they are beaten. Consider a competitive athlete who defines their worth by their wins. A single loss, even if it's against a superior opponent, can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Some of the best performers use this as inspiration to try harder. They wrap their identity so entirely inside of that one activity that they need to excel in order to feel valuable. This can lead to burnout, anxiety, and a constant fear of failure. ## Embracing Inherent Esteem and Self-Evaluation I reject this way of thinking. I believe in inherent [[esteem]]. This means that your value as a person is not contingent on your achievements or external validation. It's about recognizing your intrinsic worth, regardless of your performance in any given activity. ### The Power of Internal Focus Furthermore, I insist that the most effective way to be satisfied with your performance is to only focus on your own evaluation of that performance. This means shifting your attention away from external comparisons and focusing inward. If you have no one to compare to, then how will you evaluate that performance? You can choose to either evaluate the inputs or the outputs of the performance. ### Focusing on Inputs: The Path to Satisfaction The outputs are unfortunately subject to many external factors over which you have no control. Consider a musician performing a concert. The quality of the sound system, the audience's mood, and even the weather can all impact the perceived success of the performance. It is the inputs that are purely in your control. Now when evaluating the inputs or effort of a performance, it is not a graduated scale. You will not know what 50% looks like. There is only one absolute measure: your best. If you give your best effort, then you can say that there is no way you could have made a better output. This approach allows you to find satisfaction in the process, regardless of the outcome. Did you prepare diligently? Did you give it your all? If the answer is yes, then you can be proud of your effort, regardless of whether you won or lost, succeeded or failed. This focus on effort fosters resilience and a growth mindset, allowing you to learn from your experiences and continuously improve.