How To Be The Best Version of Yourself
From Mask to Masterpiece…
Lately, we’ve been dusting off old fairy tales and a single one has put quite the spell on us.
In The Happy Hypocrite: A Fairy Tale for Tired Men, the story details rakish Lord George Hell, who — eager to woo the innocent Jenny Mere, dons a mask of goodness to impress her. At first, Lord George Hell is merely pretending to be virtuous. But lo and behold, his good deeds soon change him from the inside out. Yup. At the end of the story, he removes his mask of kindess and realizes his real face has transformed into the very goodness he once faked.
His actions literally reshaped his identity!
It’s a tender reminder that we’re never hostage to our yesterday. Repeated effort is the pen rewriting who we are…
James Clear, in Atomic Habits, reminds us:
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
We all daydream about dropping pounds, writing the next great novel, or landing that big promotion — but without solid habits, dreams fizzle.
Without clear direction, change is a chore. With purpose, it becomes an unstoppable force.
James Clear points out that it is our teeny-tiny daily gains that end up snowballing into huge wins.
In fancy psychology-speak, that’s basically Daryl Bem’s concept of self-perception theory… (We figure out who we are by observing and reflecting on our own actions.)
Our identity follows the footprints of daily habits.
Want to be braver? Slip on some of that consistent confidence, even if it feels two sizes too big. It might feel odd at first, but soon it’ll fit like it’s tailor-made. The same trick works for kindness and other virtues too.
Make sure to chart your course so you’ll recognize the ‘you’ you’re aiming for when you finally arrive.
Flash back to 2007: When Joshua Bell took part in a social experiment in a busy Washington, D.C. subway station. Wearing a simple T-shirt and baseball cap, he played his violin — a violin worth millions of dollars— to see who would stop and appreciate the music. The rush-hour commuters charged onward, clueless that this was a world-class musician who was playing many-a sold-out concerts in Carnegie Hall that week. I think Joshua made a total of about $32.
Why?
His talent didn’t change. His Stradivarius violin didn’t change.
So what did?
Context and perception are like magic filters.
(Don’t settle for a subway station when you can shoot for Carnegie Hall.)
If we don’t showcase our sparkle or set up our growth plan, the world might just miss what we have to offer. A hidden masterpiece might remain invisible if no one bothers to peek — especially you. Build the stage you need, wear your best smile, and watch the world take notice.
And wear your new ‘mask’ of positive actions with conviction! Show up day after day, build those good habits, and trust in your own worth. Before you know it, that goodness — just like Lord George Hell’s new face — will become the real deal.
If you have any examples or insights on the topic, we would also love to hear about them in the comments below!
Always Remember, "Chews" Joy :)
~Mandy & Jonathan Chew
Loved this piece, M&J.👌💫😃 I like this phrase : 'our identity follows the footprints of daily habits'. In other words - our actions are the deeds on which we stand. They help us know what we're committed to and how we show up in the world.
Parenthetically, I published an article with the opposite title to yours - STOP STRIVING TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF 😅, thought you might enjoy it and I'd love your feedback if you read it.
https://open.substack.com/pub/tamyfaierman/p/stop-striving-to-be-the-best-version?r=eg9g9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false