Do Better

by Jessica Schmidley

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”
Maya Angelou

A friend posted this quote on her social media recently, and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I couldn’t stop thinking of the different applications of this simple concept. 

When I think back on my first years as a Pilates instructor, I feel embarrassed. I truly had no idea what I was doing, I felt like an imposter and was just hoping no one noticed. I was green, still learning my voice and trying to learn as much as I could. My clients trusted me, and took the journey with me as I learned and honed my craft. I’m sure I made mistakes.

Back then, that was the best I could do. Over the years, I learned more through personal practice, continuing education and mostly from the clients in front of me. There were moments where it was like a light bulb was turned on, and my perspective was permanently changed. 14 years later, and I still have those moments regularly. I hope I always will.

Once that happened, I often thought to myself “how could I not see that” or “how did I not know this?”. Quite simply, I was doing my best with what I knew.

Over the years I can see how my personal relationships evolved, my career, my health, because sometimes you just don’t know any better.

We often get frustrated by those around us, when they don’t see the error of their ways, or we think we know what they really need. If they would only listen to us, then they would see!

But it’s not that simple. What works for one, may not work for another. 

Everyone has their own path and will take their own time to understand what they need and want in life. Some may get there faster, some may never get there or may never want to. That’s ok.

Focus on your own journey. Whether that’s your career, health, relationships, or education. Have patience with others that are on their own path, they are often doing their own work that we don’t realize. Aim to educate without judgment, and understand that it may not resonate until a later date when they are ready to see it.

The concept is simple, do your best until you know better, and then do better. That’s all we can do.