My name is Ava, I am 17 and currently studying A Level English Language, PE and Psychology. I was lucky enough to attend Module one of the new Personal Best programme, facilitated by Alex Taskin and co facilitated by Nathalie Joel-Smith, while on work experience and with Passe-Partout.
Best is defined by the OED as ‘the most excellent or desirable type or quality’ but yesterday I learnt it was so much more than this. The term ‘best’ is subjective, it is changeable based on the individual and the situation they’re in. It is what you’re able to give, you at your optimal. Best to me is reflective of the effort you can give at that time based on your situation and that will always be good enough.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that one cannot self-actualise unless their basic physical, mental and emotional needs are first met. We can draw a parallel to those in a work context. Employees are not able to thrive professionally if their personal needs are not first met.
This is why the Personal Best programme has been created.
Personal Best aims to channel you to be your best. It strives to give you tools to discover for yourself what you can achieve and helps you to thrive in every aspect of your life.
The holistic approach taken when looking at an individual is something I found hugely valuable. This session appreciates the whole person. Staff are not treated as robots who simply carry out a role, but instead as a complexity with emotions, thoughts and feelings. I then learnt more about how the components of a person are intertwined and affect each other. For example when Nathalie guided us through the meditative practice, she asked us to think of a time when we were at our best which enabled me to tap into my emotions at those moments. I thought of two scenarios; one in a personal context and the other in a school context. And the common theme of why I was ‘at my best’, in these scenarios, was my ability to be focused. As a naturally extroverted person, I found I excel the most when I can bring this enthusiasm yet have the ability harness it, without limiting it, to ensure I remain on task. And that is what makes me my best.
The biggest aspect of Personal Best that I really want to integrate into my life, is the appreciation of my strengths. Many of us are ashamed to admit the things we’re good at, but using your strengths to your advantage maintains your motivation, confidence and reduces your self-limiting beliefs. Simultaneously, it allows you to adopt a growth mindset. In which you see effort as central, challenges as exiting, mistakes as a learning opportunity and feedback as a tool for growth. This allows you to not become too comfortable. It empowers you to write your own narrative, become good at something new and believe that you can make the changes you want to make.
Additionally, allowing myself to make mistakes is something I want to adopt into my life. Saying yes to new opportunities with the foresight that I might make a mistake and giving myself permission to do so. Reacting to those mistakes not with negative emotions and self-doubt but instead seeing it as the first step towards growth.
Personal Best is not about perfection, but instead is centred around providing each individual with the opportunity to succeed in their own narrative.
To find out more about the Personal Best Programme click below, or contact us for a discovery call:
