First I just need to comment on the crazy things you come across when you google “high standards”. While I was doing some inspirational research for this article I came across hideous articles and I really don’t want to link to any of them but let me tell you: most of these terrible articles were on dating advice for men – where they basically defined high standards as the expected exterior beauty of a women or the conformity of one. Where being young and pretty, and a woman’s ability to change according to a man’s preference in behavior was valued more than her intellect, morals, humor and really anything that actually matters. I don’t know what was worse, the content of these articles or the appraisal of them in the comment sections.
Uurk – ok. Lets take a moment and do what Taylor Swift says and Shake It Of.
There, feeling better already. Besides, I also have a voice, and I have this amazing platform to speak my mind. So, lets make sure it counts.
With this rule, I would like to divide high standards into two different things, and two separate posts:
- the most important which is the standards you set for yourself, and what that means
- and what high standards should mean when applying it to people around you – be it a man or friends
In this post I will be talking about high standards you set for yourself and what that means, and next week we will be talking high standards and relationships.
So, lets start.
So, lets start.
I believe
that I am a work in progress, that we all are a work in progress. That a big
part of life is to learn new things, to improve our understanding of our surroundings
and ourselves. Therefore, I also believe it to be important to sit back and
reflect over our personal growth. I think that a good way of doing this is to
define what it is we admire in people, and see if we hold some or any of those
qualities ourselves.
I, for
example, admire many of my friends and as I am writing this article I asked my
self – what is it that I admire? Well, one friend is an amazingly kind person.
She always choses kindness, and even others’ sometimes negative opinions of
this never seem to get to her. Other qualities I admire are often kindness,
selflessness, courage to show vulnerability; but also having a passion in life,
being ambitious, having discipline and never settling.
Now. Having
high standards for yourself is not about putting up a list of what you think
you “should” do, or what you believe others expect you to be. And I am definitely
not here to tell you that you need to feel bad about who you are today –the way
magazines do when they tell you that you aren’t good enough if you don’t do
anything and everything at the same time. Preferably in a pair of sky high and
super expensive Prada shoes.
Instead, I
would define high standards as embracing the journey of personal progress and
committing to learning and growing by defining what qualities in life are important to you, why they are important and then try to incorporate them into your life.
An example
of what I have made sure to incorporate into my life or the person I am today
is the ability to be the same person and show the same amount of interest and
respect to people regardless of if I am talking to the cleaner or the
president.
I remember,
at my first ever internship, how I really disliked when people would switch their
attention from talking to me in the lunchroom as soon as the head of department
would walk in the door. I guess my colleagues suddenly felt like getting his
attention was of higher value to them then to show respect or common decency to
an intern. I remember how instead of getting put down by this whole situation,
I asked myself what this made me think of them. Which made me realize that I
never want to behave like that, or make anyone feel insignificant due to what
their job or work title is. Because we are so much more than just our job
titles.
So what I
am trying to say is that high standards are not about expecting yourself to be
skinny, or be a super mom and wife while still having an amazing career. It’s about
defining personal qualities that matter to you, that you find admirable, and
trying to incorporate them into the person you are.
Next week I will be posting the second part of this article: high standards and relationships
Next week I will be posting the second part of this article: high standards and relationships
–tell me your stories- I would love to know what high standards are to you and what qualities do you admire in others?
Similar posts you might like:
No. 5 rule of a lady and why you should stop playing games when dating
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First, I just need to say that I love love love this blog!
ReplyDeleteOne of the qualities I admire in others is the courage of someone who is willing to push themselves outside of their comfort zone. I think that this trait of experimentation and not taking the safe route is what makes some people great! This is what I try to incorporate into my own life, but it is hard... and the older you get the more is at stake.
Sometimes I wish I would have taken more chances when I was 18, because now in my mid 20s I feel like the obligations in life are starting to pile up.
Thank you for your amazing comment Amanda <3 ! I agree with you, that is something to admire. And as for the issues you are facing when you try to incorporate them into your own life - maybe you should start small and have quite a long timeline. That way, if you want to start your own business or move to another country, or simply find the courage to change jobs, you can really take the time to plan and make sure that the worst possible scenarios are avoided :)
DeleteBut I totally agree with you that it becomes tricky to do massive changes of this sort with a lot of obligations.
Again, thank you soo much for your comment <3 means a lot that you took the time to share your thoughts with me ^_^ !
Great post! I enjoyed reading it :) I always try to "incorporate" to my personality qualities I admire from other people. They are qualities that will help me become a better person. However, I find it really hard to change. I wonder if I'll be able to do it!
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