How to become the best version of yourself

You’ve read many self-development books and tried dozens of productivity-enhancing methods. But you’re not happy with the result. Sometimes, your thinking and striving for perfect results play tricks on you. But how do you become the best version of yourself?

8 ways to become the best version of yourself

1. Give up the “Ten thousand hours” rule

You’ve probably heard about the “Ten Thousand Hours” rule, the idea that that’s how long it takes to become an expert in any field. Malcolm Gladwell wrote about this in the book “Geniuses and Outsiders,” explaining that success often depends not on innate talent but hard practice. Many took this number literally, reflecting: “I’ll just save up the hours and become a master.”

But unthinkingly training yourself without meaningful work does not lead to a breakthrough. You can go to the gym, play guitar, or write code for years, but progress will stop if you mechanically repeat the same actions without analyzing mistakes or setting clear goals. The key is not in the number of watches but in their quality. Real growth requires conscious practice.

You must be clear about what you’re improving, get feedback, and constantly step out of your comfort zone. Otherwise, you risk getting stuck in a vicious circle: you do the same thing but don’t get better. Even more important is your “why”. Without inner motivation and a deep connection to what is truly valuable to you, even fifty thousand hours will become a torture of monotony.

You’ll count the days, not the progress, and you’ll give up at some point because you don’t feel the point. So it’s not about the magic number but about how you use your time, how consciously you approach practice, and how much you believe in your actions.

2. Change your mindset

You want to become cool, but something keeps getting in the way. Usually, these are not external circumstances, such as a lack of time, money, or opportunities. The main enemy of your height is in your head. This internal saboteur is skillfully disguised. Sometimes, it looks like procrastination; sometimes, it seems like fear of failure; and sometimes, it looks like a thirst for approval. He whispers, “You will never be as good as someone else.

We need to wait for ideal conditions. Psychologists call this self-restraint. You subconsciously put sticks in your wheels so that if you fail, you can say, “I just didn’t try.” Another trick of the brain is cognitive dissonance. You want to be a master but hate monotony and are afraid to look clumsy on the way to mastery.

As a result, you get stuck in preparation: you read books and watch lessons, but don’t apply the knowledge. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. Or you blame the circumstances so as not to face the fear: “What if I can’t do it?” All these mind games prevent you from doing the only thing that works — practicing regularly and consciously.

But there is another trap — the craving for recognition. You don’t just want to get better; you want everyone to see that you’re the best, which kills real growth. Mastery does not require applause but perseverance, not ideal conditions, but a willingness to act here and now. So it’s time to deal with the self-limitations dragging you down to start flying up.

3. Stop trying to be the best among the rest

Dreaming of beating the competition, getting recognition, proving your coolness to everyone — it seems this is the real motivation, but there is a trap here. Your growth becomes fragile when you focus on being better than others. You begin to measure success not by your real achievements but by the results of others. When you see someone stronger, you immediately feel irritated or insecure instead of inspired. You find yourself in front and relax, thinking you have already “achieved your goal.”

However, mastery is not in medals or comparison with others but in daily, sometimes routine work that no one sees. When you attach self-esteem to external victories, you become a hostage to other people’s successes and assessments. And then what? Eternal stress, fear that someone will beat you, and emptiness even after achievements, because there will always be someone even cooler.

Do you stop enjoying the process and start being afraid to take risks? What if you lose and fall in the eyes of others? Real growth begins when you stop chasing the title “the best” and focus on becoming better than yesterday. Strive not to win against everyone but to learn something new, not to prove, but to develop. In a long game, the winner is not the one who is temporarily at the top but does not stop growing.

4. Stop being afraid of mistakes

Do you know what prevents you from growing? You’re afraid to start until you come up with the “perfect” plan, and you’re scared to show your work until it’s perfect. Because deep down, you believe that any mistake is proof of your inadequacy. But mastery is born not from perfection but from trial, error, and honest feedback. By forbidding yourself from making mistakes, you block your growth.

The real power is not to do everything perfectly right away but to allow yourself to be a beginner, learn from mistakes, and not deviate from the path. Allow yourself to make mistakes and look for your progress because confidence and growth are built not on defeating others but on an honest dialogue with yourself.

5. Stop looking for motivation only in desires and emotions

Enthusiasm is an unreliable ally. Today, you’re burning with the desire to change everything, and tomorrow, you wake up thinking, “Why is this even necessary?” Emotions are like the wind: they’ll pick you up and carry you forward, then suddenly subside, leaving you without the energy to move on. Sustainable motivation is born not from feelings and fleeting needs but from deep values.

An inner core appears when you connect your goals with personal growth or something more than a momentary high. You stop depending on inspiration and start moving forward even though “I don’t want to.” Stop waiting for the right mood. Instead, create a system that will work when your emotions change because real progress is not a sprint based on emotions but a marathon based on values.

6. Overcome the temptation of immediate gratification

Our brains are programmed for instant rewards. Do you know that pleasant feeling when you get a like, a colleague’s approval, or a quick result? These small doses of satisfaction can become a trap — you start chasing after them, putting off critical goals. But there is a way to cheat this system.

Break your big dream into small steps that you can take right now. Every micro—meal is a reason for joy. You no longer depend on a distant goal but receive confirmation of your progress every day. Stop waiting for the “right” moment of success. Start celebrating today by taking another step. It is from such small victories that absolute mastery develops.

7. Put your knowledge into practice as quickly as possible

Knowledge without practice is like eating without digestion. You can spend months swallowing marketing books or hours watching programming lessons, but real learning begins only when you apply the knowledge. Don’t wait for the perfect moment — it doesn’t exist, so start today. Right now. After reading the chapter, immediately try it in practice, learn a new concept, and check how it works. Your mistakes will give you more than a year of theoretical training. Stop hoarding information like a miser who hoards coins.

Knowledge should work, not gather dust in your head. The best way to learn to swim is not to read books about swimming but to dive into the water. Yes, you’ll flounder initially, but that’s how a fundamental skill is born. Make a simple rule: if you find out, apply it; if you don’t have time to use it, don’t move on to a new one. Soon, you will be surprised how much faster and deeper your learning goes.

8. Don’t forget about the respite

When you get stuck, the first desire is to pull yourself together and push harder, but this is a direct path to burnout and disappointment. First, figure out what might be slowing you down. Perhaps it’s self-doubt or fear of failure. Ask yourself: Is this true, or is it just an old record your brain is playing? Then move on to action.

Set small goals that resonate with your values, and ask for honest feedback from those you trust. Sometimes, it’s easier to see where you’re stuck and where you’re just winding yourself up. Most importantly, stop chasing the title of “the best.” Real growth often happens in silence without applause or likes.